Search Engine is a web-based service or program designed to allow Internet users to search for content via the world wide web (www). A user generally enters search or query into a search engine and receives a list of web content results in the form of websites, images, videos or other online data.
The list of content returned via a search engine to a user is known as a search engine results page (SERP). The retrieved information can be a mix of web pages, images, videos, infographics, articles, research papers and other types of files.
The ultimate search engine ...would understand exactly what you mean and give back exactly what you want. -Larry Page
Top 5 Search Engines in the World
Google
The most used Search Engine in the World is also one of the four largest tech companies, along with Amazon, Apple, and Facebook. Started as a university project by Larry Page and Sergi Brin in 1998, Google soon became the largest search network for its ease, faster results, assertive approach, and outreach. Thanks to its continuous algorithm restructuring, the results provided by Google are more updated and relevant.
The report compiled in November 2018 reported that,
73% of searches are powered by Google while only 12.09% of searches are powered by Baidu.
Today, Google generates Ad revenue in billions thanks to its massive adverts (Adword). Some of the major products owned by Google are YouTube, Google+, and Android (OS).
Today, Alphabet Inc. serves as the parent company of Google and many of its subsidiaries.
Bing
Bing is the second largest Search Engine in the U.S. and the third most used Search Engine around the world. The Microsoft’s attempt to challenge Google in search couldn’t yield many results mainly because they couldn’t manage to convince users that their search engine can produce better results than Google. The Search engine was first introduced in mid-2009.
Their search engine market share is constantly below 10%, even though Bing is the default search engine on Windows PCs.
Yahoo
Yahoo was launched as a web portal in 1995. One of the early internet pioneers, Yahoo was the ultimate getaway for most internet surfers when it came to web searches, chat (messenger), email, and news.
It was developed by Stanford University graduates Jerry Yang and David Filo. The word "yahoo" is a backronym for "Yet Another Hierarchically Organized Oracle."
It grew rapidly in the 90s, however, it started to decline post-2000 due to the rise of Google. The lack of assertive branding and marketing and many bad choices prevented it from competing with Google. Today, it is the third most visited Search Engine in the world.
Yandex
Yandex is the largest Search Engine in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It is the 5th largest Searching Engine in the world and serves as a pivotal search engine in Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, and Israel.
Baidu
Baidu is the largest Search Engine in China. A technology giant specializing in internet products and Artificial Intelligence, Baidu was established in 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu. The headquarters is located at Baidu Campus in Haidian District. It is the world’s second largest Search Engine.
Although primarily used inside China, it generates over billion searches daily.