Timeline and History of Search Engines

The first concept of developing a database that could be searched by users was developed by Vannevar Bush in 1945, who wanted a repository of information that could be used for the benefit of mankind. Gerard Salton was responsible for developing one of the first SMART searching technologies, that was the starting point for most search engines today.

Ted Nelson was also a monumental figure who shaped how modern search engines are developed. He launched project Xanadu which was a precursor to the modern day internet. The circumstances regarding Project Xanadu's failure are still not agreed upon to this day.

The first search engine ever developed is called Archie, which was developed by Alan Emtage in 1990, who was a student at McGill University in Montreal. The original intent of the name was supposed to be "archives", but it was shortened to Archie. University of Nevada System Computing Services group developed Veronica, which was in response to Archie. Instead though, Veronica was able to search plain text documents.