Editing Web directory (section)

{{Short description|Online list or catalog of Wide sites}}
A '''web directory''' or '''link directory''' is an online list or catalog of [[website]]s. That is, it is a directory on the [[World Wide Web]] of (all or part of) the World Wide Web. Historically, directories typically listed entries on people or businesses, and their contact information; such directories are still in use today. A web directory includes entries about websites, including links to those websites, organized into [[Categorization|categories]] and subcategories.<ref>{{cite web|title=Web directory|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/web-directory|publisher=Dictionary.com|access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="about.com">{{Cite web|url=http://websearch.about.com/od/enginesanddirectories/a/subdirectory.htm|title=What is a Web Directory|access-date=2010-02-25|publisher=About.com|author=Wendy Boswell|archive-date=2010-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107102839/http://websearch.about.com/od/enginesanddirectories/a/subdirectory.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Web Directory Or Directories|url=http://www.yourmaindomain.com/web-articles/what-is-web-directory.asp|publisher=yourmaindomain|access-date=30 August 2013}}</ref> Besides a link, each entry may include the title of the website, and a description of its contents. In most web directories, the entries are about whole websites, rather than individual pages within them (called "deep links"). Websites are often limited to inclusion in only a few categories.

There are two ways to find information on the Web: by [[Web search engine|searching]] or [[browsing]]. Web directories provide links in a structured list to make browsing easier. Many web directories combine searching and browsing by providing a search engine to search the directory. Unlike search engines, which base results on a database of entries gathered automatically by [[web crawler]], most web directories are built manually by human editors. Many web directories allow site owners to submit their site for inclusion, and have editors review submissions for fitness.

Web directories may be general in scope, or limited to particular subjects or fields. Entries may be listed for free, or by paid submission (meaning the site owner must pay to have his or her website listed).

'''RSS directories''' are similar to web directories, but contain collections of [[RSS feeds]], instead of links to websites.