Introduction to the Internet

What is WAIS (Wide Area Information Systems)?


WAIS is designed as a generic engine for maintaining and searching databases. Many of the information searching services used on the Internet are actually performed by WAIS. WAIS servers can also negotiate searches across different computers and sites to provide users with the widest possible range of matches. Successful matches are ranked by their satisfaction of the search criteria.

Attributes

Software

(Not generally implemented as user software)
This document was created at the University of Michigan School of Information and Library Studies (SILS), but it has been designed for public use. Permission is hereby granted for unlimited print and electronic redistribution. Your feedback is encouraged.

fprefect@engin.umich.edu - 12/17/94