What is difference between directory and search engine?

Search Engine:
Search engines use computer programs called Robots to automatically go from page to page through the web, reading content, and adding it to their databases. To speed up the process of getting your site indexed, they usually have a way for you to submit your site for indexing. You usually only have to tell a Search Engine the URL (address) of your site and it takes care of the rest.

Directories:
Directories are run by humans who review web sites and categorize them within their directories. This leads to a more abridged set of sites which can good or bad depending on what you're searching for.Yahoo and DMOZ are the two biggest directories on the web, but other important directories include local directories for your state, town, chamber of commerce, etc.

From internet.

Search engine" and "Web directory" are two different search services available to the Web community; although they are often mistakenly confused. Search engines have indices that are built up by robots or crawlers; whereas Web directories build up their indices through human editors. Many search engines and directories contain both a computer-generated index and a human generated index, and are referred to as hybrids.

search engine obviously has more options than the directory and it has more powerful functions than the


directory

directory

directory

A search engine uses a program (or "spider") that crawls through all the pages it comes across. All the words on all those pages are analyzed and stored. When a searcher queries the search engine, the search engine applies an algorithm to determine relevancy, searches its databases, and returns a list of those documents in which the words are found. altavista is a search engine.

A directory is compiled by human beings. The human "editors" review potential listings, determine what they are about, and list them in an appropriate category, along with what they believe to be an appropriate title. open directory project is a directory.

Directories cosists of catagories you can search a particular catagory but Search engin is broad you can search anything you want and its provides you all type of results.

i am pleased to part of this thread, guys explained so nicely about directory and search engines.

Hi i want to Know the use of social bookmarking and directories submission in seo and why it is important and necessary please reply i want to know it will be a great help and i will be very thankful to all of you.

Originally Posted by AirLinesGuide

Hi i want to Know the use of social bookmarking and directories submission in seo and why it is important and necessary please reply i want to know it will be a great help and i will be very thankful to all of you.

hi buddy,

social bookmarking is the method to store your favorites in online which helps others to know about you with out downloading your resources they can easily find out your favorites. which really helps for SEO to get top positions in google.

Already guys are discussed about directory submissions above, in directory submission you can save your company or personal information for a long time.