The Britannica Internet Guide is a selective directory of English-language websites. Britannica’s editors strive to include only the best websites, as judged by the following criteria:

· accuracy, usefulness, depth, and breadth of information
· credentials and authority of the author or publisher
· quality of design, graphics, and multimedia
· ease of navigation
· timeliness of revision

The rating system is as follows:

  Best of the Web 
  Superior  
  Excellent 
  Recommended 
  Noteworthy 
  Unrated  (no stars)

Britannica’s editors review each website and assign a rating from one to five stars. These ratings assess the content and presentation of sites, rather than endorse any product, service, or company. Only a handful of websites are awarded five stars and designated Best of the Web. E-commerce sites, corporate homepages, university and college homepages, and primary sources (such as e-texts, artworks, historical documents, and maps) are not rated. Also, to maintain editorial integrity, the editors do not rate sites produced by Encyclopædia Britannica.

Britannica’s editors may choose to include sites that deal with sensitive or contentious subject matter. Such sites are selected only if they have educational value, document important practices or institutions, or promote informed and constructive dialogue on topics of importance to Britannica users. The sites in the Britannica Internet Guide do not represent the beliefs of Encyclopædia Britannica or its editors.

Although most sites cataloged in the Britannica Internet Guide are available for free, a few may require a paid subscription. This requirement, when applicable, is indicated in the website review. Sites not available to the general public, such as those accessible only by member institutions, are not indexed in the guide.

The vastness of the Web is the product of millions of online publishers, including individuals, institutions, and traditional print sources. In this decentralized medium, Britannica's editors make every effort to select only trustworthy sources of information but cannot ensure the accuracy of every statement at every site.