1. A method for performing a category search to identify categories of items that relate to a search term, the method comprising: receiving at least one search term that includes at least one search term word; comparing the search term word with one or more words in a hierarchy of category identifiers to determine whether matches exist; identifying at least one matching category identifier based on the matches that are determined to exist between the search term word and the words of the hierarchy of category identifiers; accessing searchable terms related to each of several categories, where the searchable terms related to each of the several categories include names and descriptions of web sites within a corresponding category; comparing the search term word with the searchable terms related to one or more categories to determine whether matches exist; identifying at least one matching category identifier based on the matches that are determined to exist between the search term word and the searchable terms related to the categories; displaying the at least one matching category identifier; and when more than one matching category identifier is identified and displayed: determining a relative ranking among categories corresponding to the matching category identifiers based on one or more of a relative location of the matches within the hierarchy of category identifiers, and whether the matches occur with the searchable terms related to one or more categories or with the hierarchy of category identifiers, and presenting the matching category identifiers with an indication of the corresponding relative rank.