Answers.com is a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange that averages over 30 million users per month. Users with any question imaginable can type any word or phrase into the search box to obtain an answer to the question. Users can also volunteer to answer questions by simply clicking “answer” next to the search box and entering any word or phrase.

Answers are obtained and compiled from a variety of sources. The site utilizes an extensive database with information collected from over 180 different reference publishers, including Encyclopedia Britannica, Barron’s Educational Series, Oxford University Press Houghton Miffin Company and many others. Each answer contains citations of reference sources, if applicable. In addition to legitimate reference sources, answers are compiled from submissions by the editorial staff, other users, and from Wikianswers.com, which is a subsidiary online website owned by the same company and similar to answers.com. However, unlike answers.com, Wikianswers.com utilizes a Q and A format among users without reference sources (except for those provided by users).

An auxiliary benefit provided by the company is an application called Answer-Tips that any user can download to their PC. The application combines with the user’s web browser, allowing a user to double-click any word within a web page and view a pop-up reference window with proper pronunciation, part of speech, definition and useful links.