Computers and Computing

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searching

A Dictionary of Computing | 2004 | | Copyright

searching Locating information in a table or file by reference to a special field of each record, called the key. The goal of the search is to discover a record (if any) with a given key value. There are many different algorithms for searching, principally depending on the way in which the table or file is structured.

If a record is to be inserted in the file, and it is important to ensure that keys are unique, then a search is necessary: the insertion may take place as soon as the search has discovered that no existing record has the new key. Such an algorithm is known as a search and insertion algorithm.

See also table lookup, sequential search algorithm, binary search algorithm, breadth-first search, depth-first search, trie search, heuristic search.

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JOHN DAINTITH. "searching." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN DAINTITH. "searching." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-searching.html

JOHN DAINTITH. "searching." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-searching.html

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searching

A Dictionary of Ecology | 2004 | | Copyright

searching Behaviour by an animal which is directed towards the provision of some necessity (e.g. food, nesting material, or a mate) that has not yet been located.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "searching." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "searching." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-searching.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "searching." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-searching.html

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searching

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

searching Behaviour by an animal that is directed toward the provision of some necessity (e.g. food, nesting material, or a mate) that has not yet been located.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "searching." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "searching." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-searching.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "searching." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-searching.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Searching the Web. Magazine article from: Teacher Librarian; 10/1/2002
	State of the art of expert searching: results of a Medical Library... Magazine article from: Journal of the Medical Library Association; 1/1/2005
	INTRODUCTION: Expert searching Magazine article from: Journal of the Medical Library Association; 1/1/2005