This paper explores in the form of a general overview how search applications can benefit from using dynamic taxonomies. It also examines the reverse process in which taxonomies profit from being used in search applications. Different ways of enriching taxonomies by virtue of experiences from search applications are discussed, as are different methods of deploying taxonomies in search applications, including general Web search, product search and local search.

After introducing the concept of search in a broad sense that encompasses various ways of accessing information, several taxonomy applications are presented. A special emphasis is given to the proper treatment of terms (from an orthographic, morphologic and semantic point of view) given that today?s predominant way of accessing information is to enter relatively small textual units.