Can’t I just Google it?
There is a lot of information on the Internet. Where on earth should you start looking? A classic response in the classroom is: “Can’t I just Google it?” If only it were that simple!
Søkemotor på internett der det står Search med samme farger som i Google.
What is a web browser?
When we need to find information on the Internet, we use a web browser. It is a program that makes it possible to read the information that is available online. The most common browsers are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Firefox and Opera.
When we use a browser, we can open various websites. In the browser, the web pages are called tabs. We can have several tabs in the browser to be able to quickly switch between web pages.
Many people find it difficult to read what is written on websites. In a book, the pages look pretty much the same, and we read from top to bottom and from left to right. On websites, the information can be in different places on the page, and it can be difficult to see what is important. In addition, there can be film clips and cookies (advertising).
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Binær kode som beveger seg i atmosfæren over jordkloden
Search engines
We cannot read through all the pages on the web to find the information we need – it would take far too long! It is smarter to search for the information we need, and we do that by using search engines.
A search engine is much like a librarian that you can ask to help you find what you are looking for. But the search engine requires you to explain well what you really want to find. The more specific you are, the easier it is to get good search results.
Mann ved pc med søkeikon
Do you google?
The most used search engine is Google. It has even given us the verb “to google”, which means to search online. “Googling” is an everyday word today, but it didn’t exist when your parents were children.
There are also other search engines, and a couple of examples are Bing and DuckDuckGo. Also, it is worth remembering that many websites have their own search engines that you can use to find content only on them. Then you don’t have to read through everything to find what you’re looking for.
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Søkefelt på internett med forstørrelsesglass
The endless chain of links
On many websites there are a lot of links – also called hyperlinks. By clicking on these, you will be taken to new websites that have more information about what you are already reading about. In a text where the word ski is mentioned, there may be a link that takes you on to more information about skiing.
You should be careful about clicking on links without thinking. They can lead to websites you don’t want to visit, where someone is trying to trick you with viruses or false information. Viruses can destroy your computer. In the worst case scenario, someone could use your personal information to scam you. For example, they can use your credit card or use your Facebook profile to scam others.
You will often also find that clicking on links will take you further and further away from what you were originally reading. Think before you click!
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Lenkeikon på abstrakt blå 3d-bakgrunn
Do you know what you are looking for?
Before you search on Google, you should know a little about what to search for. It will be a bit like finding the famous needle in the haystack. It’s almost impossible if you don’t accidentally sit on the needle, or if you sort out the hay a little at a time. On Google, you have to sort out everything you DON’T need to know. Your search must contain what you need to know. The more keywords you use in the search, the better the results.
If you search for the word vikings, you will get millions of hits. If you search for Vikings from Vestfold who visited Constantinople, you will get far fewer hits. Then you have come quite close to your goal.
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Nærbilde av en viking med brillehjelm, løftet sverd og bjørnefell.
Sources:
- søkemotor i Store norske leksikon på snl.no. Hentet 24. mai 2022 fra https://snl.no/søkemotor
- Hartvig Abrahamsen, Mats; Gramstad, Thomas: Google i Store norske leksikon på snl.no. Hentet 24. mai 2022 fra https://snl.no/Google
- Øverby, Harald; Dvergsdal, Henrik: internett i Store norske leksikon på snl.no. Hentet 24. mai 2022 fra https://snl.no/internett
- nettleser i Store norske leksikon på snl.no. Hentet 24. mai 2022 fra https://snl.no/nettleser
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