A web directory is a directory on the World Wide Web that categorizes web sites and provides links to each one. Unlike search engines, it lists web sites by category and subcategory. This categorization is mostly based on the content of the whole web site, instead of a page or a keyword. Here, web sites can only be listed in only one or two categories. Site owners may directly submit their site to be included in the directory to be reviewed by the directory’s editors for fitness.

Business directories generate their income from paid advertisements, links which are published on the site and sponsorships. A business directory has many listings depending on the price paid for inclusion. This could be as free submission, reciprocal link, paid submissions, no follow, meaning search engines will not follow the link, featured listing where the link is given a premium position in a category or other sections of the directory such as the homepage, bid for position, and the affiliate links where the directory earns commission for referred customers from the listed websites.