---
title: "What is a computer search engine?"
url: https://lookeen.com/blog/what-is-a-computer-search-engine-2
lang: en
description: "When searching for files, you have probably already used a computer search engine. Find out exactly what it is and how it works here."
author: "Isabel Dibos"
published: 2016-04-26T15:58:18+00:00
modified: 2026-11-11T05:56:29+00:00
---

# What is a computer search engine?

What is a Computer Search Engine?

You have certainly also used the computer search engine more than once when looking for files or documents. Find out here exactly what lies behind it and how such a search engine works.

You have certainly already used the computer search engine, also known as a PC or desktop search engine, at least once. Whether private or professional, you quickly find yourself in a situation where you can no longer find a document or file on your computer and then resort to the computer search engine. This is activated as soon as you enter a term into the search field of your PC. Find out here exactly what you can imagine a computer search engine to be and how it works.

[Having trouble searching your computer? Find out more here!](https://lookeen.com/product/overview)

## Definition of a Computer Search Engine

A computer search engine usually finds all files stored on your computer that match the keyword you entered in a flash. The search engine takes into account not only names, but also the extension and size of the files, as well as their contents or other meta-information. The search results are listed below the search field. This displays all files that contain the search term in various forms. Especially with larger quantities of stored files, you are often dependent on a search engine. However, a computer search engine should not be equated with an internet search engine. The computer search engine is a kind of “offline” search engine that only searches for locally stored files on your PC.

## How does the computer search engine work?

For a computer search engine to function, an index of all your data stored on the computer must be created. The [Index](https://lookeen.com/blog/advantages-of-a-desktop-search-index/) ensures the quick finding of your entered search term. During this process, not only the name and location of the file are recorded, but also text contents and meta-information are searched. This means that in addition to Office files, emails, text files, PDFs, HTML files, as well as various image, music, and video files are scanned. The indexing of your data takes place in the background and ensures a functional computer search engine.

## The Lookeen Search Engine

You have certainly noticed that the computer search engine on current Windows computers has improved significantly and works faster than it did a few years ago. This improvement is due to technological progress. The native Windows computer search engine is completely sufficient for standard requirements such as searching for Word documents or PDF files. However, if you want to fully utilize its potential and search large databases for rare documents, Microsoft Windows reaches its limits. Here arises the question of whether you should not resort to an [alternative third-party search tool](https://lookeen.com/blog/alternative-windows-search-which-software-is-the-best/) .

[Lookeen](https://lookeen.com/product/overview) enables you to have better functionality and more targeted results, as the focus of this tool is on desktop and [Outlook search](https://lookeen.com/blog/video-how-to-use-lookeen-for-outlook-search). The installation and use of Lookeen are incredibly simple. The tool offers you various functions and settings options that are not available with your standard search tool. In addition, Lookeen works even more effectively and displays the desired search results to you in seconds.

Computer search engines offer enormous advantages for working on your computer – make sure you work with a search tool that delivers the best results to you.