Tips to make your searches more effective.

BASIC SEARCH

  • define:wan
    • returns definitions.
  • time:Toronto
    • returns time in a location.
  • cache:https://example.com
    • Google’s cached version.
  • filetype:pdf
    • similar to ext:, specifies the file type.
  • related:spotify
    • returns similar websites or similar topics.
  • site:cnn.com
    • Returns only search results from a particular website.
  • 5lb to kg
    • converts a unit to…
  • map: New York
    • map results.
  • movie: forest
    • searches for movies.
  • stocks: Microsoft
    • stock information.
  • weather: Tokyo
    • weather forecast.

BASIC OPERATORS

    • excludes a term from the search: linux distribution ubuntu
  • +
    • forces exact match: linux +distribution -ubuntu
  • |
    • same as writing OR between search terms: ios | android
  • @
    • filter results from a particular social media: @linkedin dell
  • #
    • returns results with the hashtag: #blacklivesmetter
  • “”
    • must include expression or word in quotes: fear of the dark
  • *
    • asterisk is a wildcard: “fear of * dark”
  • _
    • it is a wildcard for the autocomplete function: fo__est gump
  • ..
    • returns matches within the number range: android $500..$800
  • ()
    • creates a logic of the query: (japan | tokyo) AND (olimpic | games)
  • ~
    • alternative synonyms can be applied: ~antique vehicles

ADVANCED OPERATORS

  • inanchor:list
    • returns pages that are linked to using anchor text (link text).
  • allinanchor: full list
    • like inanchor but matching every term.
  • link:example.com
    • returns pages that contain links to the term.
  • intext:subject
    • searches only in the page’s body.
  • allintext: specific subject
    • like intext but matching every term.
  • intitle:dashboard
    • searches only in the page’s title.
  • allintitle: dashboard admin
    • like intitle but matching every term.
  • inurl:login.php
    • returns searched if the term is in the URL.
  • allinurl: wp-content uploads 2021
    • like inurl but matching every term.
  • before:2021-01-01
    • filter pages older than specified.
  • after:2021-01-01
    • filters pages newser than specified.