The specified term refers to the acquisition, without cost, of a software application designed to aggregate results from multiple search engines. This typically involves locating and retrieving an installation package that allows users to access the functionality of the metasearch engine on their computer. An example would be seeking to install an application that combines results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo! without paying for the software itself.
The perceived value of such applications lies in their ability to provide a broader spectrum of search results than a single search engine might offer. Historically, metasearch engines offered a way to bypass the potential biases or limitations of individual search algorithms. Access without charge broadened user accessibility, allowing more individuals to benefit from this aggregated search capability. These tools became popular when search engine technology was less mature and individual engines offered less comprehensive indexes of the internet.
