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Google Search facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the search engine. For the corporation, see Google.
Quick facts for kids
Google Search
GoogleLogoSept12015.png
Google Search homepage
The Google homepage
Type of site
 Search Engine
Available in Multilingual (124)
Owner Google
Created by Sergey Brin and Larry Page
Revenue From AdWords
Website http://www.google.com
list of domain names
https://www.google.com
Alexa rank Steady 1 (March 2014)
Commercial Yes
Registration Optional
Launched September 15, 1997
Current status Active

Google Search is a popular search engine on the World Wide Web. It's owned by Google Inc. and helps millions of people find information every day. Google Search was created by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1997.

Its main job is to find text on webpages. But it can do much more! Google Search has over 20 special features. These can help you find weather forecasts, time zones, maps, movie times, and even sports scores.

The way Google shows search results is special. It uses a system called "PageRank." This system helps decide which webpages are most important.

How Google Search Works

Finding Information on the Web

Google Search looks for information across billions of webpages. It doesn't just find text. It also finds other types of files. These include PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets. Google can even show you a "snapshot" of these files. This means you can often read them even if you don't have the right program.

Google tries to index as much of the web as possible. However, some information is hidden in online databases. This is called the "deep web." It includes things like library catalogs or phone books. Google and other search engines don't cover much of this deep web.

How PageRank Ranks Pages

Google became very successful because of its special PageRank system. Older search engines would rank pages by how often your search words appeared. But PageRank works differently. It looks at links between webpages.

Imagine links as votes. If many important pages link to another page, that page is probably important too. PageRank gives a score to pages based on these links. Google also uses over 200 other secret rules to rank pages. They keep these rules secret to stay ahead of competitors.

Making Your Search Better

You can change how Google Search works for you. You can set a default language. You can also turn on "SafeSearch" to filter out inappropriate content. You can even choose how many results show on each page.

Google uses small files called cookies to remember your settings. This helps make your search experience easier.

Cool Features of Google Search

Google Search has many special features. You can activate them by typing certain words into the search box. Here are some examples:

  • Weather: Type "weather" and a city name (like "weather Paris") to see the forecast.
  • Time: Find the current time in a city (like "time Cairo").
  • Sports Scores: Type a team or league name to see scores and schedules.
  • Unit Conversion: Convert measurements (like "10.5 cm in inches").
  • Currency Conversion: Change money from one currency to another (like "6789 Euro in USD").
  • Calculator: Type a math problem (like "6*77 +pi") to get an answer right away.
  • Dictionary Lookup: Find a definition by typing "define:" followed by the word (like "define:philosophy").
  • Maps: See a map by typing a place name and "map" (like "New York map").
  • Movie Showtimes: Find movie times near you by typing "movies" or a movie name.
  • Package Tracking: Track a package by typing its tracking number.
  • Area Code: Find the location for a U.S. phone area code (like "650").
  • Synonym Search: Find similar words by putting a tilde (~) before your search term (like "~fast food").

Smart Search Tips

You can use special words and symbols to make your searches more exact:

  • OR: Search for one word OR another (like "price high OR low").
  • -: Exclude a word (like "apple -tree" to find apples, but not apple trees).
  • +: Make sure a word is included (like "Name +of +the Game" to require "of" and "the").
  • " ": Use quotation marks for an exact phrase (like "World Wide Web").
  • *: Use an asterisk as a wildcard for missing words (like "x * x").

There are also specific commands you can use:

  • site:: Search only on a specific website (like "site:www.nasa.gov Mars").
  • allintitle:: Search only for words in the page title.
  • filetype:: Find only specific file types (like "filetype:pdf report").

Fun with Google Search

I'm Feeling Lucky

Google's homepage has a button called "I'm Feeling Lucky." If you click it, Google takes you directly to the very first search result. It skips the page with all the other results. The idea is that if you're "feeling lucky," Google will find the perfect answer right away!

Sometimes, Google changes this button for special events. For example, on the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man, the button changed to "Insert Coin." Clicking it let you play a Pac-Man game right on the Google page!

Google Doodles

On special days, the logo on the Google homepage changes. These special versions are called "Google Doodles." They celebrate holidays, famous birthdays, or important historical events. Clicking on a Doodle takes you to search results about that topic. The first Doodle was for the Burning Man Festival in 1998. Others have celebrated Albert Einstein's birthday or Valentine's Day.

Google Instant Search

In 2010, Google introduced "Instant Search." This feature shows you suggested results as you type your search. It helps you find what you're looking for even faster! Google thought this could save users a lot of time.

Google Around the World

Google Search is available in many different languages. It has also been made to work well in many different countries. This means people all over the world can use Google in their own language.

Languages Google Supports

Google Search can be used in over 120 languages! Here are just a few:

Google also has some fun, silly language options, like Klingon (from Star Trek) and Pig Latin!

Google's Web Addresses

Google has many web addresses (domain names) around the world. For example, while the main one is google.com, there are also specific ones for different countries. This helps Google provide local results and services. You can see a list of many of these domain names at Template:Google.com.

Other Google Products

Besides its main search engine, Google offers many other useful tools and services. These include:

Google is always creating new things to help people online!

Images for kids

  • Google Web Search Wikipedia result

    A definition link is provided for many search terms.

  • A screenshot of suggestions by Google Search when "wikip" is typed

    A screenshot of suggestions by Google Search when "wikip" is typed

  • Google Search error of January 31, 2009

    A screenshot of the error of January 31, 2009

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Buscador de Google para niños

kids search engine
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Google Search Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.