Abstract: A method and system for searching databases having items indexed by multiple keywords that are indicative of the item being indexed for easy searching by having keyword lists that reference lists of items that fall under these specific keywords. These keyword lists reference item lists that indicate which item is under which keyword and how this item can be found in a database. The keyword lists are advantageously searched by storing them in a word tree where each node in the word tree is an element of a keyword. By traversing the word tree to arrive at a bottom node or at an intermediary node from which bottom nodes derive, partial and full keyword searches are performed. These keyword lists and their corresponding item lists are able to be cached at a user computer from which the user performs his or her search. Any items that match the search terms entered by the user can then be retrieved from a remote server.