One can search two types of information pools on the web:

• Web search: A web search compiled by a search engine looking through all the web sites on the web and listing the most relevant ones according to your search terms. Such search engines crawl all the web sites on the web and select rank them according to specific algorithms developed by the search engines Google is the best example of such an engine.
• Directory: A collection of web sites categorized using certain criterion. These web sites are submitted and people manage the inclusion of new web sites in the directory and under what category the web site fall. (Examples are Yahoo! Directory and DMOZ)

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Locating information on the web one usually have two options:

• Search returns a list of web pages containing the words you entered. These results are a combination of relevant web pages and web sites provided by the search engines search function in unison with the directory.
  

• The Directory is a human-created and maintained library of web sites organized into categories and subcategories. Editors review these sites for potential inclusion in the Directory, and to evaluate the best place to list them.
  

The Search is helpful when:

• Doing searches on keywords and phrases. I prefer Google for keyword and phrase searches.

The Directory is helpful when:

• You're not sure how to describe what you want, or you're searching for words with multiple meanings. Behind the scenes, editors build in synonyms, cross-references, and relationships between subjects. For example, when you're ready for your close up, you might search for "casting" to get an audition. Your results will include sites from the related Directory category. I prefer DMOZ and Yahoo! Directory.