When will we be able to search for all the web by "extended regular expressions"?

[dsdsds85]

Hi all!

As you (should) know, the most powerful method for searching is that by "extended regular expressions". If you don't know what is it, you can find a short explaination with examples here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression.

Much web search engines already support the boolean search, some with the "near" operator too, but my dream would be to be able to use all the (other) potentialities that the "extended regular expressions" notation offer.

I believe that the main reason for which it's still not possible are the high computational costs.

Do you believe that we will have an implementation of the "extended regular expressions" in future popular web search engines? if so, when? 2010? 2020?

V.

[seomike]

When a search for .* won't crash their servers :D

[dsdsds85]

Exceptionally, I found a search engine with a (limited) support for regular expressions!

It's http://beta.exalead.com/search

I tried a search for ".*" and it gave me 428,103,931 results in 0.84 s.

[Mikkel deMib Svendsen]

There are many reasons I do not think you should ever expect to find what you are looking for at the major search engines. Most of it comes down to money (as usual) :)

The number of users that will be able to use the functions are limited to a very small fraction of all users. I do not think that will ever change. Believe me, for years I have tried to educate people of how to do more advanced searches, and many other people still do that (like our own Chris Sherman that does an excelent job) but I think most agree that the average Joe still search very simple. Search is simply not that much in focus for most people. It's just a "tool" like a remote control. People don't want to study for years to utilize the functions of a remote control - in fact, I think most people don't even read the 6-page manual.

For most major search engines today I do not think it's so easy just to "turn it on". With all the pre-calculations taking place I am not sure there is any easy ways for engines to implement the suggested functions. Off course I could be wrong but in any case I am pretty sure it won't get any high priority. Search engines are business today - big business, and unless they think they can profit - long- or short term, from something I don't think they will do it. Some could argue that Google have a history of exactly doing that but I think those times are fading away. Going public does force you to focus your business and I am quite sure Google will do so.

So, don't hold your breath for this to come around soon :)