found: Wikipedia, Jan. 8, 2007(Federated searching consists of transforming a query and broadcasting it to a group of disparate databases with the appropriate syntax, merging the results collected from the databases, presenting them in a succinct and unified format with minimal duplication, and allowing the library patron to sort the merged result set by various criteria ... Federated search implements a program that allows users to access multiple data sources with a single query string located within a single interface. The user enters a search query in the portal interface's search box and the search string is sent to every individual database that is incorporated into the portal or federated search list)