A method and apparatus that generates a plurality of ranked query results from a query over a plurality of separate search domains. In this embodiment, the device receives the query and determines a plurality of results across the plurality of separate search domains using the query. The device further characterizes the query. In addition, the device ranks the plurality of results based on a score calculated for each of the plurality of results determined by a corresponding search domain and the query characterization, where the query characterization indicates a query type.