Editing Google Search (section)

=== Search syntax{{anchor|Google Advanced Search}} ===
Google search accepts queries as normal text, as well as individual keywords.<ref name="How to search">{{Cite web |title=How to search on Google |url=https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/134479 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=Google Search Help |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205130532/https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/134479 |url-status=live }}</ref> It [[autocorrection|automatically corrects]] apparent misspellings by default (while offering to use the original spelling as a selectable alternative), and provides the same results regardless of capitalization.<ref name="How to search" /> For more customized results, one can use a wide variety of [[Operator (computer programming)|operators]], including, but not limited to:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Refine web searches |url=https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=Google Search Help |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011040039/https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Boswell |first=Wendy |date=October 5, 2017 |title=Advanced Google Search Shortcuts |url=https://www.lifewire.com/advanced-google-search-3482174 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=[[Lifewire]] |publisher=[[Dotdash]] |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107213428/https://www.lifewire.com/advanced-google-search-3482174 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* <code>OR</code> or <code>|</code>  – Search for webpages containing one of two similar queries, such as ''marathon OR race''
* <code>AND</code>  – Search for webpages containing two similar queries, such as ''marathon AND runner''
* <code>-</code> (minus sign) – Exclude a word or a phrase, so that ''"apple -tree"'' searches where word ''"tree"'' is not used
* <code>""</code> – Force inclusion of a word or a phrase, such as ''"tallest building"''
* <code>*</code> – Placeholder symbol allowing for any substitute words in the context of the query, such as ''"largest * in the world"''
* <code>..</code> – Search within a range of numbers, such as ''"camera $50..$100"''
* <code>site:</code> – Search within a specific website, such as ''"site:[[YouTube|youtube.com]]"''
* <code>define:</code> – Search for definitions for a word or phrase, such as ''"define:phrase"''
* <code>stocks:</code> – See the stock price of investments, such as ''"stocks:googl"''
* <code>related:</code> – Find web pages related to specific [[URL]] addresses, such as ''"related:www.wikipedia.org"''
* <code>cache:</code> – Highlights the search-words within the cached pages, so that ''"cache:www.google.com xxx"'' shows cached content with word "xxx" highlighted.
* <code>( )</code>  – Group operators and searches, such as ''(marathon OR race) AND shoes''
* <code>filetype:</code>  or <code>ext:</code> – Search for specific file types, such as ''filetype:gif''
* <code>before:</code>  – Search for before a specific date, such as spacex ''before:2020-08-11''
* <code>after:</code>  – Search for after a specific date, such as iphone ''after:2007-06-29''
* <code>@</code> – Search for a specific word on social media networks, such as ''"@[[twitter]]"''
Google also offers a '''Google Advanced Search''' page with a web interface to access the advanced features without needing to remember the special operators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/advanced_search |title=Google Advanced Search |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=Google |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608214053/https://www.google.com/advanced_search |url-status=live }}</ref>

Unlike other search engines, when searching for exact phrases, Google Search only takes words that are on the same line into account.

==== Query expansion ====
Google applies [[query expansion]] to submitted search queries, using techniques to deliver results that it considers "smarter" than the query users actually submitted. This technique involves several steps, including:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smarty |first=Ann |date=October 31, 2008 |title=What is Google Query Expansion? Cases and Examples |url=https://www.searchenginejournal.com/what-is-google-query-expansion-cases-and-examples/7924/ |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=Search Engine Journal |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210015717/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/what-is-google-query-expansion-cases-and-examples/7924/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Word [[stemming]] – Certain words can be reduced so other, similar terms, are also found in results, so that ''"translator"'' can also search for ''"translation"''
* Acronyms – Searching for abbreviations can also return results about the name in its full length, so that ''"[[NATO]]"'' can show results for ''"North Atlantic Treaty Organization"''
* Misspellings – Google will often suggest correct spellings for misspelled words
* Synonyms – In most cases where a word is incorrectly used in a phrase or sentence, Google search will show results based on the correct synonym
* Translations – The search engine can, in some instances, suggest results for specific words in a different language
* Ignoring words – In some search queries containing extraneous or insignificant words, Google search will simply drop those specific words from the query
* Location sensitivity – Google may consider users' geographical location to deliver more relevant results.

[[File:A screenshot of suggestions by Google Search when "wikip" is typed.png|thumb|A screenshot of suggestions by Google Search when "wikip" is typed]]

In 2008, Google started to give users [[autocomplete]]d [[Search suggest drop-down list|search suggestions]] in a list below the search bar while typing, originally with the approximate result count previewed for each listed search suggestion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Danny |date=August 25, 2008 |title=Google.com Finally Gets Google Suggest Feature |url=https://searchengineland.com/googlecom-finally-gets-google-suggest-feature-14626 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=[[Search Engine Land]] |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071530/https://searchengineland.com/googlecom-finally-gets-google-suggest-feature-14626 |url-status=live }}</ref>