8. A computer system configured to generate search results, the computer system comprising: a processor; a computer storage medium operatively coupled to the processor, the computer storage medium including: instructions for receiving a query; instructions for comparing the query to either: (a) a plurality of documents, or (b) information representative of said plurality of documents; instructions for creating, for at least a first document of the plurality, a score data structure which comprises a plurality of fields of information containing numerical values regarding a plurality of aspects of how the first document compares to the query; instructions for selecting, based on a function, a first rank set from a plurality of rank sets, wherein each of the rank sets comprises a plurality of formulas, each formula including at least one different weighted value and each formula operable to compute a scalar score based on score data structures; instructions for selecting, for at least the first document of the plurality, a specific formula from the first rank set, the specific formula selected in accordance with a document type associated with the first document; instructions for computing a scalar score for at least said first document by applying the specific formula selected from the plurality of formulas in said first rank set to said score data structure; and instructions for generating a ranking for at least the first document based at least in part on the computed scalar score.
8. A computer system configured to generate search results, the computer system comprising: a processor; a computer storage medium operatively coupled to the processor, the computer storage medium including: instructions for receiving a query; instructions for comparing the query to either: (a) a plurality of documents, or (b) information representative of said plurality of documents; instructions for creating, for at least a first document of the plurality, a score data structure which comprises a plurality of fields of information containing numerical values regarding a plurality of aspects of how the first document compares to the query; instructions for selecting, based on a function, a first rank set from a plurality of rank sets, wherein each of the rank sets comprises a plurality of formulas, each formula including at least one different weighted value and each formula operable to compute a scalar score based on score data structures; instructions for selecting, for at least the first document of the plurality, a specific formula from the first rank set, the specific formula selected in accordance with a document type associated with the first document; instructions for computing a scalar score for at least said first document by applying the specific formula selected from the plurality of formulas in said first rank set to said score data structure; and instructions for generating a ranking for at least the first document based at least in part on the computed scalar score. 12. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said plurality of formulas computes said scalar score as a mathematical function of said plurality of fields.