Chapter 1: Learning About Google Web Services

Overview

Google is one of the most popular search engines around because it provides a superior number of hits. Of course, more hits don't translate into better data. The search engine is also good at providing valid information through the use of indexing and filtering so long as you specify the search criteria clearly. Given the number of ways that the Google Advanced Search (http://www.google.com/advanced_search) helps you look for information, providing clear direction can be overwhelming to some. The flexibility provided by the interface is part of Google's charm , however, and the reason many power users prefer Google. If you can't describe a search using this interface, you might not know what you're looking for.

Google Web Services is a means of accessing Google without going to the Web site and performing a search manually. This Web service provides essential services by helping you automate the search process and presenting data in the form that you need, rather than in the form that Google thinks you need. In this chapter, you discover how Google Web Services can help you perform searches faster and with greater accuracy. The result is that you'll reduce the time you spend searching and actually have time to do something with what you find.

It's not too amazing that Google Web Services is extremely popular ”you can use it to find information located on any public Web site. In many ways, Google Web Services is superior to the manual search technique because automating a search saves both time and money. Even companies such as Macromedia (http://www.macromedia.com/support/flash/applications/google_search/) are getting into the act by providing tutorials and other support for Google Web Services. Google Web Services lets you look for information in many ways. For example, you could use it as the search engine for a small Web site. This chapter also discusses how you can use Google Web Services in other ways, how to download and install the kit that Google provides, and what you should expect as output.

Note  

Various sources also refer to the Google Web Services as Google Web Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The term API refers to a set of functions that a developer can call on to perform application tasks . For example, opening a file requires use of one or more functions provided by the operating system API. The term Web service is more specific and appropriate than API, so this book uses Google Web Services throughout. However, you can use the two terms interchangeably.