What Is the Difference Between Search Engines and Databases?
Search engines such as Google and Bing retrieve different types of information and do not provide access to many of the sources found in library databases. While search engines may be a good place to start your research, you will need to search a few library databases to access all of the information you need for your research.
The table below shows how library databases and search engines serve different purposes.
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Library Databases (e.g., Sociology Database Links to an external site. & PubMed Links to an external site.) |
Search Engines (e.g., Google Links to an external site. & Bing Links to an external site.) |
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Source types include peer-reviewed journal articles, books, eBooks, and other research materials. |
Source types include few free scholarly journal articles and books. Main sources are popular, commercial, and educational websites. |
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Use for college-level research. |
Use when you need a quick answer to low stakes questions. Great for finding recipes, directions, or product reviews. |
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Information is written and reviewed by journalists or experts in a professional field. |
Information is created by all types of authors and can be crowd-sourced such as information about travel or entertainment. |
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Library database subscriptions are paid for by a college and accessible off-campus 24/7. |
Most information is free, but some information may require a subscription or paid account to view material. |