AOL Search

Web Search

Web search results are Websites listed in order of relevance, with listings with the highest relevance appearing first. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by Google. These results may contain objectionable material not endorsed by AOL®. For information on how Google sorts these listings, go to About Google.

Image Search

Image search results are sorted by relevance, with the most relevant images appearing first. These listings are administered, sorted, and maintained by Google. Google considers a number of factors when determining whether an image is relevant to your search request. Because these methods are not entirely foolproof, it's possible some inappropriate pictures may be included among the images you see.

AOL® image search uses a mature content filter called SafeSearch by default. You can change the SafeSearch settings by going to the Preferences page. The SafeSearch filter removes many adult images but it can't guarantee that all such content will be filtered out.

Video Search

Video search results include multimedia streams and files (Real Media™, Windows® Media, QuickTime®, MP3 and Flash) from the Web sorted by relevance. Video search results are powered by AOL® Video and Truveo®. For more information about technologies, policies or to submit your videos for inclusion in AOL Video and Truveo, visit Video.AOL.com and Truveo.com.

News Search

News search results include news articles from an extensive database of news and multimedia content from news providers such as Associated Press®, Reuters®, CNN®, People® Magazine and Fortune®. The articles that are presented within the Top News category come from all the providers and sources offered on AOL® News search. These sources are updated regularly. The other categories--Entertainment, Sports and Business--contain articles that are relevant in those categories.

Shopping Search

Shopping Search results are powered by PriceGrabber®, and are drawn from across the Web. PriceGrabber displays both paid and algorithmic results including product information, prices, product ratings and links to the various merchant sites. Paid results are administered, sorted and maintained by PriceGrabber. For more information about PriceGrabber, go to PriceGrabber.com.

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Advertisement

An Advertisement, identified in other contexts as a "trademark layer," is a paid placement that highlights the advertiser's official Website and other company specific information. It is triggered by a search for a trademark owned by the advertiser.

Sponsored Links

Sponsored links that appear in AOL Search results or on AOL channels are listings that have been purchased by companies to have their businesses or Web sites appear for specific search terms related to their services. Sponsored links, also sometimes referred to as pay-per-click ads, are administered, sorted and maintained by Google and AOL. For more information on how pay-per-click ads work and how to sign up, go to AdWords.Google.com and AOLMediaNetworks.com/Search.

Web Offers and More

Web Offers and More are listings that display offers related to the search terms you enter. These sponsored link listings are maintained by third parties and not endorsed by AOL.

Paid Adult Links

Paid adult links are listings that have been purchased by companies that want to have their businesses or sites appear for specific search terms. These pay-per-click ads are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and not endorsed by AOL.

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You can use the Advanced Search feature to get more precise results or control over the results:

• Include or exclude specific words in your search results.
• Specify language of sites that you would like to see in your search results.
• Specify file format, such as PDF, Word, Excel or Shockwave Flash.
• Sites with specific numeric range.
• Search for keywords that you're serching for anywhere on the page, such as in the title, text, URL or links.
• Include or exclude specific Websites or domains in your search results.
• Filter search results based on usage rights.

Domain Specific Search

You can specify your search within a specific domain name only. For example, if you're looking for information on the musician John Mayer on music.aol.com, type John Mayer in the Find Results field and music.aol.com in the Domain field on the Advanced Search page.

You can also specify a domain that you want to exclude from your search. Instead of selecting "Only" in the drop down menu, select "Don't."

This domain specific search feature is also available without going to the Advanced Search page. Just enter the search term followed by site:domain (no space between site: and domain) on AOL Search home page or search results pages. For example, to search for John Mayer on music.aol.com only, enter John Mayer site:music.aol.com in the search box.

Usage rights

You can use the usage rights feature to find content that you can share or modify, such as for music, images and movies. If you leave the filter as "not filtered by license," then you'll get search results regardless of the rights.

The usage rights filter is based on Creative Commons license. Before using, sharing or modifying the content, verify license rights on Creative Commons website.

You can filter by usage rights for results that are:

• Free to use or share.
• Free to use or share, even commercially.
• Free to use, share or modify.
• Free to use, share or modify, even commercially.

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SafeSearch

The optional SafeSearch feature automatically filters out adult sites with explicit content. You can find your SafeSearch status right below the AOL Search box, or go to preferences.

Preferences

You can update your AOL Search preferences to turn on or turn off your Search History and Safe Search. You can also update your location management for local searches.

Help

Clicking on Help will take you to AOL Search Help. Find more information about AOL Search features and tools.

Search History

The Search History feature keeps track of your searches for the last 30 days, making it easy to get back to your previous search results. You can also see the search results that you clicked on. To view your Search History, click on the Search History link on the top right-hand side of an AOL Search page.

Calculator

The calculator helps you save time in finding the answers you need. Simply enter the calculation you'd like done into the search box and hit the Enter key or click on the Search button. The calculator can solve math problems involving basic arithmetic, more complicated math, units of measure and conversions, along with other common "calculator" functions. Click here to see an example: how many ounces are in a pint.

Reference Search

Reference search retrieves relevant encyclopedia articles from the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia licensed from Columbia University Press. Recognized as one of the most complete and up-to-date encyclopedias, it comprises a vast range of topics and is reviewed on a quarterly basis. Click here for an example: Abraham Lincoln.

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AOL Toolbar

AOL Search toolbar allows users to quickly search the Web, block unwanted pop-ups and have easy access to their AOL or AIM® mail. To learn more and download go to Toolbar.AOL.com.

Add AOL Search to Your Browser

Easily add AOL Search for fast searching within your Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 browsers. Learn more.

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