Definition: Search Results

Search results are the links to websites, documents, images, or other content that a search engine returns in response to a user’s search query. These results are generated by the search engine’s algorithms and are based on the search engine’s understanding of the query and its index of the web. The ranking of the search results is determined by a combination of factors such as the relevance, authority, and quality of the content, the user’s search history and location, and the preferences set by the user. The search results are displayed on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), which often include other elements such as sponsored links, images, news articles, and local listings. The goal of search engines is to present the most relevant and useful search results to the user, helping them find the information they are looking for in the shortest amount of time.