There are millions of sites on the world wide web, covering millions of different subjects. Web directories are one way they are kept organized.

What is a web directory?

A web directory, as the name implies, is a directory for sites on the Internet. A web directory is maintained and edited by human beings (rather than computer programs) who categorize each website into subjects. The sites are linked to other sites of the same subject, so when searching for particular topic (for example, poker tables), the sites will be categorized conveniently.

How is a web directory different from a search engine?

Search engines such as Google use sophisticated computer programs to build their website index.  When you type in a search on Google, you are searching this index.

A web directory, on the other hand, uses human editors who review the specific site and add it to the directory’s index. Yahoo is one example of a famous web directory. Unlike search engines, web directories may charge a fee to list a site on the directory, mainly because it uses human labor.

When is it useful to use a web directory?

Whether you will want to use a search engine or a web directory depends on whether you are searching for information or publishing a site. If you are searching for information, a search engine will usually yield the highest results.

If you are publishing a site for your business, you’ll want to use a search engine and a web directory to generate more traffic. Yahoo, for example, charges $299 a year to have a site listed in their directory. Submitting to a search engine is free, but web directories will increase your overall online presence.