How do I create a "Search the Site" feature for a web page

How can I offer users a way to 'search' my site.

[Thors Hammer]

I am sure this is a simple question, but here goes anyway...

I want users that come to my site to be able to put in search terms, and get back relevant results. How can I do this, and is there a free way for me to do it? Or am I gonna have to go out and buy someones software to make this feature happen.

I would think that it is some sort of cgi script, that goes thru and creates somesort of index based on either the html of the pages (content), or uses the meta tags, or maybe both. Am I on the right path???

HELP :)

PS I hope I put this in the right place, couldnt find anywhere else to post this that seemed more appropriate. ;)

Thor

[Nick_W]

Hi Thor,

For most sites, a free service is more than adequate.

I like Atomz [atomz.com] as you can create a template to look exactly like your pages for the SERP's and in general it's a good alround service.

Google also offer a service for free, though this only works if you're already indexed.

Nick

[DiAMOndDavE]

Thor,
The one I use is Bravenet Site Search:
[bravenet.com...]
Regards
DiAMOndDavE

[richlowe]

Atomz and FreeFind both offer excellent services which allow customization.

Perlfect is a good one if you have CGI access.

Richard Lowe

[figment88]

master.com is also free, offers a bunch of other services, and allows templates

[WyrmEye]

I've had the same question. However, this is for an Intranet, and we can't use a free outside service. Now what?

[victor]

Someone recommended

http://www.htdig.org

the other day. It's GPL, runs on your server. I've read the site, but not used it myself.

[richlowe]

For intranet, perlfect is good as is htdig. If you use Microsoft IIS, it has a built in search facility.

Richard Lowe

[Robert Charlton]

Here's another thread on the same subject, which contains links to a couple of other threads, also about site search....

[webmasterworld.com...]

I'm not sure you'll find anything that hasn't been mentioned here.

[Thors Hammer]

Thanks everyone for the usefull information. Off to research I go, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi ho.........

;)

Thor

[WyrmEye]

Yup! Thanks for the heads up. I wasn't optimistic there was anything out there.