bots?

on the list of registered users at the bottom of the page I notice a google(bot), yahoo(bot) and msn(bot).
Can someone explain what they are?please

In language i can understand
They are from the various search engines .. come to spy on us

Making notes of information here and taking it back with them

For a more technical explanation

(aka Spiders, crawlers) Bots, also known as Crawlers or Spiders are search engine programs that go out on the internet, follow links, and read ...

Bots (aka Spiders, crawlers)
Bots, also known as Crawlers or Spiders are search engine programs that go out on the internet, follow links, and read through the pages in order to index the site in a search engine. There are many such bots on the net. Most search engines have their own unique version of a bot, such as google bot. It normally takes a bot 1-3 weeks to index a site and add it to a search engine.

http://www.realty-seo.com/html/definitions.cfm

Link removed. Completely forgot where I was for a moment.

Scotty

that link goes into the university rooms, this topic is in public.

can you remove the link please.

Links to hidden rooms should never be placed in public rooms, search engines try to follow and get denied, so do guests and standard members.