Search Engine
A search engine is a tool that finds pages on the web and shows the ones that match what you typed. Google describes its own in three stages: programs called crawlers visit pages, what Google learns about them is stored in a giant database called an index, and when someone searches, it returns the pages it judges most relevant.
Source: Google Search Central, In-depth guide to how Google Search works, checked October 29, 2026
What Search Engine means for your business
The line between a search engine and an AI answer tool is getting thin, by the companies' own description. Microsoft calls Bing an AI-powered search and answer engine, and Google adds AI Overviews to some results pages and offers AI Mode beside its regular search.
The old job still comes first, and we still do it. If someone promises you a spot in Google, Google's guide says it doesn't take payment to crawl a site more often or rank it higher, and it doesn't promise to show any page, even one that follows its rules. Before we worry about any AI answer, we'd check that Google and Bing have your important pages stored, using Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Search engines aren't only Google and Bing. People also search inside YouTube, TikTok, Amazon, Reddit and app stores. We'd ask where your buyers start looking, then make sure you can be found there.
To set your Google numbers beside the AI side, our report on AI search market share lists the visits each AI tool sends to websites.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. All terms
How AI answers it today
On October 29, 2026, neither answer mentioned AI answers. ChatGPT gave a plain definition with four examples and cited nothing; Google's AI Overview described crawling, indexing and ranking, citing a Canadian business bank's glossary, software vendors, SEO blogs and MDN, but no Google page.
Our run through ChatGPT and Google's AI Overview, October 29, 2026. A sample, not what every buyer sees.
Related terms in the platforms
Find out where your brand stands.
Tell us what you're trying to figure out. We'll get back to you within one business day with a time to talk.