Marginalia Search
Independent search engine that indexes the old, text-based, non-commercial internet.
Open the official app on search.marginalia.nu
This tool is hosted by its maintainers. Click below to open search.marginalia.nu in a new tab — it's their official demo.
Browse developer tools →What's next with Marginalia Search?
Choose how you want to get started.
Use it free
Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.
Self-host it
Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is Marginalia Search?
Marginalia Search is an open-source internet search engine designed to index and retrieve content from text-based websites, prioritizing non-commercial, niche, and historically significant online resources. It targets websites that may be overlooked by mainstream search engines, such as older archives, community forums, and specialized databases. The tool is particularly useful for users of text-oriented browsers or those seeking alternatives to commercial search platforms. By focusing on simplicity and privacy, Marginalia Search addresses the challenge of discovering underrepresented digital content while avoiding reliance on proprietary technologies or centralized data storage. Its AGPL-3.0 license encourages community-driven development and ensures transparency in its operation.
How it works
Marginalia Search operates as a decentralized search engine, indexing websites that cater to non-commercial audiences. It emphasizes accessibility for users who prefer or require text-based browsing, such as those using command-line interfaces or older browsers. The project's primary goal is to preserve and surface content from the 'small, old, and weird web' by avoiding AI-driven algorithms and focusing on straightforward indexing. This approach aligns with its mission to support human-centric, non-commercial internet practices. The tool excels at retrieving content from websites that lack modern design elements, such as those using basic HTML or outdated frameworks. It maintains a functional replica of its interface at https://old-search.marginalia.nu/ to ensure compatibility with older systems. Additionally, it allows users to host their own instances via its open-source codebase, enabling customized indexing for specific domains or communities.
How to use it
- 1Access the search interface via https://search.marginalia.nu/ or its text-friendly alternative at https://old-search.marginalia.nu/. 2. Enter keywords related to non-commercial or historical content, such as 'archived academic papers' or 'retro computing forums'. 3. Review results that prioritize text-based websites, filtering out modern, commercial platforms. 4. Use the GitHub repository (https://github.com/MarginaliaSearch/MarginaliaSearch) to deploy a self-hosted version for private or specialized indexing tasks. For optimal compatibility, users of text-based browsers are advised to use the old interface, which avoids advanced CSS techniques. Custom indexing requires configuring the project's crawler software to target specific domains or content types.
What it can do
- search engine
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://github.com/MarginaliaSearch/MarginaliaSearch
- license: AGPL-3.0 — free to use
- privacy: Self-hosted — you control your data
Limitations
- Limited support for dynamically generated content reliant on JavaScript
- Dependence on text-based browsing interfaces for full functionality
- Scalability constraints due to lack of distributed computing infrastructure
- No AI-powered natural language processing for query refinement
- Requires technical expertise for self-hosting and customization
Understanding the result
Independent search engine that indexes the old, text-based, non-commercial internet.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by (MIT).
- Built with
- (MarginaliaSearch/MarginaliaSearch)
- License
- MIT
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Query
- Output
- Text
Built with MarginaliaSearch/MarginaliaSearch. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- License
- MIT
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- / — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
- AGPL-3.0 License
Upstream project
Frequently asked
What types of websites does Marginalia Search prioritize?
Marginalia Search focuses on non-commercial, text-based websites that may be overlooked by mainstream search engines. This includes older archives, community forums, and specialized databases. It avoids indexing modern, commercially driven platforms that rely on JavaScript or complex frameworks.
How does Marginalia Search handle indexing and crawling?
The tool uses a simple crawler that prioritizes static HTML content and avoids dynamic elements. It indexes websites by following links and storing text-based data, with no reliance on AI or machine learning. Users can host their own instances via the open-source codebase to customize indexing parameters for specific domains.
How can I use Marginalia Search with a text-based browser?
Access the old interface at https://old-search.marginalia.nu/ to ensure compatibility with text-based browsers. This version uses minimal CSS and avoids modern web technologies, allowing seamless navigation without graphical elements. Enter search terms directly into the query bar to retrieve results from the indexed dataset.
How does Marginalia Search compare to Google or other search engines?
Unlike Google, Marginalia Search does not prioritize commercial content or use AI-driven algorithms. It focuses on preserving non-commercial, text-based websites that may have been abandoned or underrepresented. While it lacks real-time data updates, its open-source nature and privacy-first approach distinguish it from proprietary search platforms.
What should I do if I encounter an error loading the interface?
If the main interface fails to load, try accessing the old version at https://old-search.marginalia.nu/. For self-hosted instances, check the GitHub repository for error logs and ensure all dependencies are correctly configured. Verify network connectivity and firewall settings if hosting on local servers.