Abstract: A method and system for searching databases uses query catching and/or metadata exploration features to analyze the search terms entered and present suggestions displayed on the initial search results page, together with the traditional search results. The method and system simplifies and improves the user's experience by mapping user queries to relevant methods for accessing content based on string similarity measures, term relationships, and editorial assertions. The method and system uses an underlying search engine that enhances search results and suggests topics, dates, and/or publications, displayed as links on the results page, to help focus the search using automatic indexing.