Introduction to Information Retrieval
Christopher D. Manning, Prabhakar Raghavan, Hinrich Schütze · first published 2008 · ISBN 9780521865719
This textbook explains the actual algorithms, data structures, and mathematical models that power search engines. Topics include indexing, ranking algorithms, probabilistic retrieval, and how search engines evaluate their own performance. The writing assumes no advanced background.
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The Best Books About Search Engines and the Internet
If you want to understand how search actually works beneath the Google interface, this is the book that explains it without requiring a computer science degree. It bridges the gap between curious reader and technical expert.