HotBot is no longer an active internet search engine. Therefore, a detailed writeup about its current function is impossible. The provided URL, http://www.hotbot.com, likely redirects or returns an error message, reflecting the defunct status of the company. In the past, HotBot operated as a web search engine, competing with other early search engines like Yahoo! and AltaVista. Information about its history, technology, and market position can be found in archival resources on the internet. However, a current description of its function is not possible as it no longer functions as a search engine.