Search engines, such as Google, are websites that allow the user to search for content on other websites based on criteria entered by the user. Search engines are easy to use, are very fast, and are good at revealing information buried in a database that is not cataloged well. However, search engines themselves only catalog a small fraction of web based content. Also, search engines can have trouble distinguishing between homonyms, such as "Apple" the company and "apple" the fruit, so the desired search results can be inundated with undesired content.

Web based databases and directories, such as ODP, organize web content into a hierarchical lists. Directories often yield more reputable sources than do search engines because an organization maintains a database, whereas the results of a search engine are filtered by computers. This same human defined organization of databases also avoids the "Apple" problem of search engines described above, since content is organized topically.  However, maintaining databases is labor intensive and difficult to manage on the vast and ever changing world wide web. Therefore, web databases cover less of the Internet than do search engines.

Usenet is one of the earliest applications of the Internet. Usenet is a collection of chatrooms and online forums, organized loosely by topic, where users may post articles and others may respond. The scope and depth of this information is massive, and dates back to the late 1970's. The size of this information stockpile is one of Usenet's strengths, allowing researchers to any questions on just about any topic. However, the quality of the information found on Usenet varies widely and is often biased. This makes Usenet useful for opinions and recommendations, but not as useful for finding facts.

Depending on the type of information the researcher seeks, one particular method of searching might yield more useful information in less time. Given the ease of use and the speed, often search engines are best used to initiate a search. If more in depth information is required, or if the information is easily categorized and is likely to be on a directory, online databases and directories then could yield better information. Finally, if an opinion or an answer to a question is required, Usenet might be the best information source.