1. A method of generating search results in response to a search query, the method comprising the steps of: based on the search query, identifying a plurality of matching resources, wherein the plurality of matching resources includes a particular resource; reading metadata associated with said particular resource, wherein said metadata indicates a plurality of candidate items to include in an abstract for said particular resource; based on filtering criteria, selecting a subset of candidate items from said plurality of candidate items; generating abstracts of each of said plurality of matching resources, wherein the abstract of said particular resource is generated to include the subset of candidate items that were selected based on the filtering criteria; and providing said abstracts as search results of said search query; wherein the subset of candidate items that are included in the abstract generated for the particular resource includes at least one or more selected from the group consisting of: a promoted link which, when activated, causes retrieval of content pointed to by a link that is either contained within the particular resource or is contained within a resource to which the particular resource is directly or indirectly linked by one or more links in the particular resource; a value added service link which, when activated, causes information to be sent to a service that is controlled by a party other than the party that controls the particular resource; a value added information item obtained by a search engine submitting information to a service that is controlled by a party other than the party that controls the particular resource and other than the party that controls the search engine, where that service processes the information; wherein the information is either (a) extracted from the particular resource or (b) about the party that controls the particular resource; and a mid-document link which, when activated, causes retrieval of the particular resource and also jumps to the particular location within the particular resource where content of interest is located, wherein the particular location is such that jumping to the particular location within the particular resource results in hiding the top of the particular resource; wherein the steps are performed on one or more computing devices.
1. A method of generating search results in response to a search query, the method comprising the steps of: based on the search query, identifying a plurality of matching resources, wherein the plurality of matching resources includes a particular resource; reading metadata associated with said particular resource, wherein said metadata indicates a plurality of candidate items to include in an abstract for said particular resource; based on filtering criteria, selecting a subset of candidate items from said plurality of candidate items; generating abstracts of each of said plurality of matching resources, wherein the abstract of said particular resource is generated to include the subset of candidate items that were selected based on the filtering criteria; and providing said abstracts as search results of said search query; wherein the subset of candidate items that are included in the abstract generated for the particular resource includes at least one or more selected from the group consisting of: a promoted link which, when activated, causes retrieval of content pointed to by a link that is either contained within the particular resource or is contained within a resource to which the particular resource is directly or indirectly linked by one or more links in the particular resource; a value added service link which, when activated, causes information to be sent to a service that is controlled by a party other than the party that controls the particular resource; a value added information item obtained by a search engine submitting information to a service that is controlled by a party other than the party that controls the particular resource and other than the party that controls the search engine, where that service processes the information; wherein the information is either (a) extracted from the particular resource or (b) about the party that controls the particular resource; and a mid-document link which, when activated, causes retrieval of the particular resource and also jumps to the particular location within the particular resource where content of interest is located, wherein the particular location is such that jumping to the particular location within the particular resource results in hiding the top of the particular resource; wherein the steps are performed on one or more computing devices. 29. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, from an owner of a particular resource, metadata that indicates a plurality of links to include within abstracts generated for the particular resource.