There are several "commands" in Google search. These commands allow you to narrow down your search and improve the efficiency of information collection.
It can also be used in various ways, such as for instant calculations in place of a calculator or games.
This article will cover a list of commands that can gather behind-the-scenes information from Google searches.
They are all useful to know.
Please check them out to make your Internet work more comfortable and meaningful.
1. Search commands to control the search target
- 「inurl:」
- 「intitle:」
- 「allintitle:」
- 「site:」
- 「filetype:」
- 「cache:」
- 「OR」
- 「-」
- 「""」(Double quotation marks)
2. Search commands to quickly retrieve information
- 「calculator」
- 「unit conversion」
- 「color picker」
- 「time」
- 「food」
3. Search commands that can be played with games
- 「pacman」
- 「solitaire」
- 「tic tac toe」
4. Search commands that visually change search results
- 「askew」
- 「do a barrel roll」
- 「recursion」
1. Search commands to control the search target
「inurl:」
This command helps search for specific words in indexed URL and tends to be used for sites with many URL.
「intitle:」
The "intitle:" command allows you to search only for words in the title. For example, if you search only for "how to grow vegetables," you will get hits for all content on how to grow vegetables.
On the other hand, if you search for "intitle:how to grow vegetables," pages with "how to grow vegetables" in the title will be preferentially displayed in the search browser.
「allintitle:」
If you want to specify multiple keywords in "intitle:" use the command "allintitle:".
For example, a search for "vegetables how to grow vegetables" usually does not necessarily include both "vegetables" and "how to grow vegetables" in the title of the hit page.
You will probably see pages with titles such as "how to grow vegetables" or "vegetable growing manual.
To avoid this, if you want to narrow your search to titles that include both, try searching for "allintitle:vegetables how to grow vegetables".
「site:」
There are many options with just the "site:" command.
Searching with "site:" in front of the domain name will return hits for indexed pages.
A search with "site:" before the domain, followed by a space and text, with OR in between, will return hits for pages with either of the target texts (site:domain text① OR text②).
If you add "site:" before the domain, followed by a space and text, and enclose the text in double quotation marks, the page with the target text will be a hit (site:domain "text").
If you add "site:" before the domain, followed by a single-byte space and "inurl: text", a site with a subdomain from the full URL will be hit (site:domain inurl: text).
It is possible to search for the corresponding text in the URL, including folders and file names.
Adding "site:" before the domain followed by a space and "intitle: text" will return hits for page titles that contain the relevant text within site (site:domain inurl:text).
「filetype:」
filetype:" allows you to search only for files with a specified file extension. The extension is a string of characters such as ".html" or ".pdf" included in the file name.
For example, a search for "filetype:xlsx Household account book" will result only in ".xlsx" files related to household account books, i.e., files from the corresponding spreadsheet software.
It is useful when looking for Excel templates or papers in PDF format.
「cache:」
Searching by entering a URL after "cache:" will allow you to check the cache (a backup if the web page is no longer displayed) that Google has stored within that website.
It is a useful command that can be used when the administrator has deleted a web page or is temporarily unavailable due to a server error.
Search command to control search targets
The number of pages displayed by Google search is enormous. Therefore, many people may want to control the search target to some extent and approach only the information they want.
In such cases, the following commands are helpful.
「OR」
When "OR" is entered between two or more keywords, results related to one of the words will be displayed. The differences in search patterns are as follows.
"Dogs" → hits on pages related to dogs
"Cats" → hits on pages related to cats
"Dogs OR Cats" → hits on pages related to both dogs and cats (AND search)
"Dog OR Cat" → hits on pages related to dogs or cats, including only single pages for each (OR search)
Naturally, the search results will vary depending on whether "OR" is included or not; this is useful for avoiding AND searches.
「-」
When used in combination with the minus sign, it is possible to exclude specified keywords from the search results.
「""」(Double quotation marks)
If you put keywords between double quotation marks, you can perform an "exact match" search.
For example, if you search for "both dogs and cats," even though most hit pages have both dogs and cats as content, the words "both dogs and cats" are not necessarily used in the text.
On the other hand, the fixed phrase will be included if the phrase is enclosed in double quotation marks.
2. Search commands to quickly retrieve information
We no longer have to bother to open a web page or application to promptly obtain the information we want to know just by searching.
It is the very essence of Google.
Introduced below are useful yet straightforward commands that only Google can provide with its user-first philosophy.
Many of you may be using these commands unconsciously in your daily life.
「calculator」
When you search for "calculator," a calculator appears in your browser. The calculator will appear in its calculated state if you enter a mathematical expression in the search window.
In the case of a function such as "y=3x," a graph will appear.
「unit conversion」
Try typing "unit conversion" in the search window. You will find tools to convert various units, such as length, temperature, pressure, frequency, etc.
It is useful when you encounter units you do not usually use, such as nautical miles, miles, and yards, not to mention meters/centimeters.
If you search for "100 miles," the tool will appear with the unit already converted to another unit.
「color picker」
Searching for "color picker" will bring a tool to convert colors into numerical values.
According to the search browser's screen, it allows you to replace a hexadecimal code such as "#FFFFFFF" with RGB or CMYK.
If you search for a color code, such as "#bf5ffd," a tool will appear showing that color.
「time」
Searching for "time" will display the current location's time, date, and day of the week. If you specify a location, such as "time New York," you can see the difference between your local time and Greenwich Mean Time.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) settings are also automatically reflected, making it convenient for users to know the time in other countries.
「food」
Search for a food name, such as "pizza" or "curry," and nearby restaurants that sell it will be displayed.
It is also possible to narrow the search by user ratings and business hours.
Whether you call it evolution or a search engine's hasty decision (laugh), it is beneficial when you are in an unfamiliar place and only knows what you want to eat.
3. Search commands that can be played with games
With a single Google search, you can also play games. Just type in a particular word, and it will pop up in your browser.
The Google Search command is genuinely playful. The following are just a few examples.
「pacman」
When you search for "pacman," "Pacman Doodle" appears at the top of the page, and the game begins when you press the "Play" button.
Pac-Man is a Japanese video game franchise created by Toru Iwatani but published, developed, and owned by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Entries have been developed by many other video game companies, including Midway Games, Atari, and Mass Media, Inc.
「solitaire」
If you search for "solitaire," you can play the card game solitaire.
Solitaire is any tabletop game that one can play by oneself, usually with cards and dominoes.
The term "solitaire" is also used for single-player games of concentration and skill using a set layout tiles, pegs, or stones.
These games include peg solitaire and mahjong solitaire. The game is often played by one person but can incorporate others.
「tic tac toe」
Search for "tic tac toe" to play "tic tac toe".
Tic-tac-toe, noughts, crosses, or Xs and Os is a paper-and-pencil game for two players who take turns marking the spaces in a three-by-three grid with X or O.
The player who succeeds in placing three of their marks in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row is the winner.
4. Search commands that visually change search results
You can change the browser screen by entering a word in the search window.
Following the game type, this is another unique command. It may be surprisingly little known.
「askew」
When you search for "askew", the screen is tilted at an angle. I am sure that I am not the only one who was bewildered when I saw it for the first time.
「Do a barrel roll」
When you search for "do a barrel roll", the search results for "do a barrel roll" are displayed, and at the same time, the entire page rotates 360 degrees. Be careful, as you may get dizzy.
「recursion」
If you search for "recursion" on Google, you will see "Did you mean: recursion". Click on this part. You will get the same search result.
It is a play on literally recursing.
5. Google search commands are helpful and varied!
Google Search commands range from highly useful to entertaining and humorous antics.
They are helpful for efficient information gathering and a little relaxation.
I recommend the healing a-hole specifications (diagonal and one-turn) for a giggle.
To learn more about SEO, check out the post below.
