The Mouser search engine gives me fits too, and I've been doing this kind of work since the 1960's. Don't think you are deficient in some way because Mouser doesn't search well.

and do study the datasheet. It's a gold mine of proper information. You'll be studying a lot of them as you continue learning.

Hoping for your success.

 

Actually the Mouser cataloging is the best in my opinion. Searching for stuff doesn't always work well, true...

But I hate how Digikey organizes their site, but they do have a lot more ICs than Mouser.

 

I use the paper catalog for Mouser, as you said. It just works better than their search engine.