Yahoo Search Using Open Directory and SpamGuard to Better Index

The new Yahoo search is using an old school system for helping to improve their search results; Netscape’s Open Directory Project. The search industry respected Open Directory (aka. DMOZ) provides open source content for use in multiple search solutions, also inclusing Google.

According to the Yahoo/Overture site: Yahoo! leverages the Open Directory Project (ODP) to further improve the user experience on distribution partner sites. ODP title, description and category meta data is used to enhance Yahoo!’s relevant search results.

ODP is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web with a global community of volunteer editors.

Additionally, Yahoo! Search also leverages Yahoo!’s core, proprietary assets like Yahoo! Mail’s SpamGuard technology. SpamGuard is used to help filter out irrelevant, redundant or low-quality URLs and links within Yahoo! Search.