Search aggregator

Type of metasearch engine

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A search aggregator is a type of metasearch engine which gathers results from multiple search engines simultaneously, typically through RSS search results. It combines user specified search feeds (parameterized RSS feeds which return search results) to give the user the same level of control over content as a general aggregator.[citation needed]

Soon after the introduction of RSS, sites began publicising their search results in parameterized RSS feeds. Search aggregators are an increasingly popular way to take advantage of the power of multiple search engines with a flexibility not seen in traditional metasearch engines. To the end user, a search aggregator may appear to be just a customizable search engine and the use of RSS may be completely hidden. However, the presence of RSS is directly responsible for the existence of search aggregators and a critical component in the behind-the-scenes technology.

## History

[edit]

The concept of search aggregation is a relatively recent phenomenon with the first ones becoming available in 2006. In 2005 Amazon published the OpenSearch specification for making search results available in a generic XML format. While many sites currently publish results in OpenSearch, many simply publish in generic RSS format. However, while OpenSearch syndication allows for greater flexibility in the way Search Aggregators display results, it is generally not required.

## Functional overview

[edit]

A search aggregator typically allows users to select specific search engines ad hoc to perform a specified query. At the time the user enters the query into the Search Aggregator, it generates the required URL "on the fly" by inserting the search query into the parameterized URL for the search feed. A parameterized URL looks something like this:

https://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q={SEARCH_TERMS}&ie=UTF-8&output=rss

In this case, the {SEARCH_TERMS} parameter would be replaced with the user requested search terms, and the query would be sent to the host. The Search Aggregator would then parse the results and display them in a user-friendly way.

## Advantages

[edit]

This system has several advantages over traditional metasearch engines. Primarily, it allows the user greater flexibility in deciding which engines should be used to perform the query.[1] They also allow for easy addition of new engines to the users personal collection (similar to the way a user adds a new news feed to a news aggregator.)

## Patents

[edit]

Apple patent US6847959B1,[2] filed January 5, 2000, covers universal search aggregation. This resulted in the removal[3] of this feature from Samsung Android smart phones in July 2012.

## See also

[edit]

* Aggregator
* Metasearch engine
* Federated search

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for aggregators.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Use of 'anonymous' search engine aggregator DuckDuckGo rockets following PRISM scandal" Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
2. ^ "Patent US6847959 – Universal interface for retrieval of information in a computer system – Google Patents". Retrieved 2012-08-16.
3. ^ Florian Mueller (2012-02-15). "Last week's Apple-Samsung lawsuit involves eight patents, 17 products – bid for Nexus ban is based on only a subset". FOSS Patents. Retrieved 2012-08-16.

* v
* t
* e

Internet search

Types|

* Web search engine (List)
* Metasearch engine
* Multimedia search
* Collaborative search engine
* Cross-language search
* Local search
* Vertical search
* Social search
* Image search
* Audio search
* Video search engine
* Enterprise search
* Semantic search
* Natural language search engine
* Voice search

Tools|

* Cross-language information retrieval
* Search by sound
* Search engine marketing
* Search engine optimization
* Evaluation measures
* Search oriented architecture
* Selection-based search
* Document retrieval
* Text mining
* Web crawler
* Multisearch
* Federated search
* Search aggregator
* Index/Web indexing
* Focused crawler
* Spider trap
* Robots exclusion standard
* Distributed web crawling
* Web archiving
* Website mirroring software
* Web query
* Web query classification

Protocols
and standards|

* Z39.50
* Search/Retrieve Web Service
* Search/Retrieve via URL
* OpenSearch
* Representational State Transfer
* Wide area information server

See also|

* Search engine
* Desktop search
* Online search

* v
* t
* e

Web syndication

History
Blogging
Podcasting
Vlogging
Web syndication technology

Types|

* Art
* Bloggernacle
* Classical music
* Corporate
* Dream diary
* Edublog
* Electronic journal
* Fake
* Family
* Fashion
* Food
* Health
* Law
* Lifelog
* MP3
* News
* Photoblog
* Police
* Political
* Project
* Reverse
* Travel
* Warblog

Technology|

| General|

* BitTorrent
* Feed URI scheme

|

Features|

* Linkback
* Permalink
* Ping
* Pingback
* Reblogging
* Refback
* Rollback
* Trackback

Mechanism|

* Thread
* Geotagging
* RSS enclosure
* Synchronization

Memetics|

* Atom feed
* Data feed
* Photofeed
* Product feed
* RDF feed
* Web feed

RSS|

* GeoRSS
* MRSS
* RSS TV

Social|

* Inter-process communication
* Mashup
* Referencing
* RSS editor
* RSS tracking
* Streaming media

Standard|

* OPML
* RSS Advisory Board
* Usenet
* World Wide Web
* XBEL
* XOXO

Form|

* Audio podcast
* Enhanced podcast
* Mobilecast
* Narrowcasting
* Peercasting
* Screencast
* Slidecasting
* Videocast
* Webcomic
* Webtoon
* Web series

* Anonymous blogging
* Collaborative blog
* Columnist
* Instant messaging
* Liveblogging
* Microblog
* Mobile blogging
* Spam blog
* Video blogging
* Motovlogging

Media|

| Alternative media|

* Carnivals
* Fiction
* Journalism
* Citizen
* Database
* Online diary
* Search engines
* Sideblog
* Software
* Web directory

|

Micromedia|

* Aggregation
* News
* Poll
* Review
* Search
* Video
* Atom
* AtomPub
* Broadcatching
* Hashtag
* NewsML
* 1
* G2
* Social communication
* Social software
* Web Slice

Related|

* Blogosphere
* Escribitionist
* Glossary of blogging
* Pay per click
* Posting style
* Slashdot effect
* Spam in blogs
* Uses of podcasting

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