by: Programming

Tips to make your searches more effective.

BASIC SEARCH

  • define:wan
    • Returns definitions.
  • time:Toronto
    • Returns the time in a location.
  • cache:https://example.com
    • Shows Google’s cached version of a page.
  • filetype:pdf
    • Similar to ext:, filters results by file type.
  • related:spotify
    • Returns similar websites or topics.
  • site:cnn.com
    • Returns results only from a specific website.
  • 5lb to kg
    • Converts a unit to another.
  • map: New York
    • Returns map results.
  • movie: forest
    • Searches for movies.
  • stocks: Microsoft
    • Returns stock information.
  • weather: Tokyo
    • Returns a weather forecast.

BASIC OPERATORS

  • –
    • Excludes a term from results: linux distribution –ubuntu
  • +
    • Forces an exact match: linux +distribution -ubuntu
  • |
    • Same as OR between search terms: ios | android
  • @
    • Filters results from a specific social media platform: @linkedin dell
  • #
    • Returns results with a hashtag: #blacklivesmatter
  • “”
    • Requires an exact phrase or word in results: “fear of the dark“
  • *
    • Wildcard that matches any word: “fear of * dark“
  • _
    • Wildcard for the autocomplete function: fo__est gump
  • ..
    • Returns results within a number range: android $500..$800
  • ()
    • Groups terms to build query logic: (japan | tokyo) AND (olympic | games)
  • ~
    • Includes synonyms in results: ~antique vehicles

ADVANCED OPERATORS

  • inanchor:list
    • Returns pages linked to using specific anchor text.
  • allinanchor: full list
    • Like inanchor, but matches every term.
  • link:example.com
    • Returns pages that link to the specified URL.
  • intext:subject
    • Searches only within a page’s body text.
  • allintext: specific subject
    • Like intext, but matches every term.
  • intitle:dashboard
    • Searches only within a page’s title.
  • allintitle: dashboard admin
    • Like intitle, but matches every term.
  • inurl:login.php
    • Returns results where the term appears in the URL.
  • allinurl: wp-content uploads 2021
    • Like inurl, but matches every term.
  • before:2021-01-01
    • Filters results to pages older than the specified date.
  • after:2021-01-01
    • Filters results to pages newer than the specified date.