Google Advanced Search Operators are unique symbols or commands that you can include in your Google search queries to customize and refine the results that you receive. By using these operators, you can easily obtain more precise and targeted information that is relevant to your needs.

Advanced Search Operators can be particularly useful when you need to narrow down the search results to a specific category of information or exclude certain types of information that you are not interested in. For instance, you can use the "site:" operator to search for information within a particular website or domain, the "filetype:" operator to search for specific file types, and the "intitle:" operator to search for keywords in the title of a webpage.

Overall, Advanced Search Operators provide a powerful tool to enhance your Google search experience and help you find the exact information you need. By mastering the use of these operators, you can easily obtain high-quality results that meet your specific search criteria, saving you valuable time and effort.

According to the ahrefs' blog post, there are more than 30 search operators, some of them work while the others do not.

According to the Google's documentation, there are only around 10 operators. As Google's documentation is fragmented due to categorizing operators per service (text search, image search, new search), it is a bit difficult to find them in one place and refer to it later.

Due to that, we decided to prepare a guide with examples of each operator.

Let's start!

site:

The "site:" advanced search operator gives you the ability to refine your search results by specifying a particular website or domain. By using the "site:" operator followed by a website URL or domain name, you can instruct Google to display results exclusively from that specific website or domain. This feature is helpful when you want to focus your search within a particular website or domain or when you want to exclude results from certain websites.

Here are some practical examples of how you can utilize the "site:" operator in your Google searches:

  • Searching within a specific website: If you want to find information on dogs within the Wikipedia website, you can use the search query "site:wikipedia.org dogs." This will show results related to dogs but only from the website Wikipedia.org.
  • Searching within a specific domain: To search for information about climate change within educational institutions, you can use the query "site:.edu climate change." This will display results related to climate change but only from websites with the ".edu" domain, typically representing educational institutions.
  • Excluding results from a specific website: If you want to find information about climate change but want to exclude results from Wikipedia.org, you can use the query "climate change -site:wikipedia.org." This will show results related to climate change but exclude any results from Wikipedia.org.
  • Searching within a specific subdomain: To search for gardening tips specifically within the blog subdomain of the website example.com, you can use the query "site:blog.example.com gardening tips." This will display results related to gardening tips but only from the blog subdomain of the website example.com.

filetype:

The "filetype:" operator is a powerful tool in Google search that allows you to search for specific file types on the internet. By incorporating this operator into your search query, followed by a file extension like PDF, DOC, or XLS, Google will present results exclusively containing files of that particular format.

This operator proves especially valuable when you need to locate specific types of documents such as research papers, resumes, or product manuals. For example, if you wish to find research papers about climate change, you can use the search query "climate change filetype:pdf" to exclusively display PDF files containing information on that topic.

To provide further clarity, here are a few examples:

  • Finding PDFs: If you're seeking PDF files on the internet, you can use the "filetype:" operator followed by "pdf". For instance, by searching "climate change filetype:pdf," you'll receive results exclusively featuring PDF files related to climate change.
  • Finding Word documents: If your goal is to find Word documents on the internet, you can use the "filetype:" operator followed by "doc". For example, a search like "resume filetype:doc" will present results solely containing Word documents associated with resumes.
  • Finding Excel spreadsheets: If you're searching for Excel spreadsheets online, you can use the "filetype:" operator followed by "xls". For instance, a search like "budget template filetype:xls" will generate results specifically featuring Excel spreadsheets related to budget templates.

inurl:

The "inurl:" operator on Google is a handy tool for searching specific terms within web page URLs. By utilizing this operator with a keyword or phrase, Google will present search results exclusively featuring that term or phrase within the URL. This functionality proves useful when seeking websites or pages with specific keywords or phrases incorporated into their URLs.

Here are a few practical examples:

  • Searching for specific pages on a website: To locate particular pages on a website, employ the "inurl:" operator. For instance, if you desire all pages on a website containing the word "contact," utilize the search query "site:example.com inurl:contact."
  • Searching for a product within a website: To find a specific product within a website, utilize the "inurl:" operator. For example, if you're seeking a Samsung phone on Amazon's website, use the search query "site:amazon.com inurl:samsung phone."
  • Searching for a specific file type on a website: To search for a specific file type within a website, utilize the "inurl:" operator. For instance, if you wish to find all PDF documents within a website, use the search query "site:example.com inurl:pdf."


intitle:

The "intitle:" operator in Google's advanced search capabilities allows you to explore web pages that include specific words or phrases in their titles. By using this operator followed by a keyword or phrase, you can prompt Google to exclusively present results featuring that particular term or phrase within the title of a web page.

For example, if you're seeking web pages about healthy recipes, you can execute the search query "intitle:Greek Cuisine" to generate results solely containing pages with "Greek Cuisine" in their titles.

Here are some practical use cases:

  1. Search for specific types of content: Utilize the "intitle:" operator to locate pages containing specific types of content. For instance, if you're seeking pages related to marketing strategies, use the search query "intitle:marketing strategies."
  2. Search for content on a specific website: Use the "intitle:" operator to discover pages within a specific website that contain a particular word or phrase in their titles. For example, if you want to find pages on the New York Times website related to climate change, utilize the search query "site:nytimes.com intitle:climate change."
  3. Search for product reviews: Utilize the "intitle:" operator to find product reviews on specific websites. For instance, if you're interested in finding reviews of the iPhone X on the CNET website, use the search query "site:cnet.com intitle:iPhone X review."

intext:

The "intext:" operator in Google's advanced search functionality allows you to explore web pages containing specific words or phrases within their body text. By using this operator followed by a keyword or phrase, you can direct Google to display results that exclusively contain that term or phrase within the text of a web page.

Here are a few practical use cases:

  1. Search for pages with specific information: Utilize the "intext:" operator to search for pages that contain specific information. For instance, if you want to find pages with information about the history of the Roman Empire, use the search query "intext:History of the Roman Empire."
  2. Search for pages on a specific website: Use the "intext:" operator to discover pages within a specific website that contain a particular word or phrase in their body text. For example, if you want to find pages on the CNN website related to the COVID-19 pandemic, use the search query "site:cnn.com intext:COVID-19."
  3. Search for pages that answer a specific question: Utilize the "intext:" operator to search for pages that provide answers to a specific question. For instance, if you want to find pages that answer the question "how to make lasagna," use the search query "intext:how to make lasagna."

The "related:" operator, an advanced search feature provided by Google, allows you to discover web pages that share similarities or are related to a specific website. Simply input the URL of the desired website after the "related:" operator, and Google will present you with search results that exhibit similarity or relevance to that particular website.

Here are a few practical applications:

  • Find similar websites: Utilize the "related:" operator to discover websites that bear resemblance to a specific website. For example, if you seek websites similar to the New York Times, use the search query "related:nytimes.com".
  • Identify competitors: Use the "related:" operator to identify websites that are similar to or compete with a specific website. For instance, if you intend to find websites that compete with Amazon, use the search query "related:amazon.com competitors".
  • Explore relevant resources: Employ the "related:" operator to find resources that are connected to a specific topic of interest. For example, if you have an interest in finding resources related to renewable energy, use the search query "related:renewable energy".

define:

The "define:" operator of Google's advanced search functionality allows you to access word or phrase definitions. By utilizing this operator followed by a specific word or phrase, Google will present you with the corresponding definition.

Here are a few ways to utilize the "define:" operator:

  1. Seek word definitions: Utilize the "define:" operator to search for the definition of a particular word. For instance, if you wish to uncover the definition of the word "plethora," you can use the search query "define:plethora".
  2. Explore phrase definitions: The "define:" operator can also be employed to search for the definition of a specific phrase. For example, if you aim to discover the meaning of the phrase "pass on," you can use the search query "define:pass on".

cache:

The "cache:" advanced search operator in Google allows you to view a stored version of a web page that Google has cached on its servers. By using this operator and providing the URL of a website, you can request Google to show you the cached version of the page. This feature can come in handy if the original page is inaccessible or is taking too long to load.

The cached version of a page is essentially a snapshot that Google took during its last indexing. As a result, the cached version may not be the most recent version of the page, but it can still be useful for accessing content that may no longer be available on the original page.

  • Access a cached version of a page: You can use the "cache:" operator to view a cached version of a web page. For example, if you want to view the cached version of the Wikipedia homepage, you can use the search query "cache:https://www.wikipedia.org/".
  • Access a cached version of a page from search results: You can also access the cached version of a web page directly from the search results page by clicking on the "Cached" link that appears below the page URL.

OR:

The "OR" advanced search operator in Google allows you to search for web pages that contain one or more keywords or phrases. By using this operator between two or more keywords or phrases, you can instruct Google to show results that contain any of the keywords or phrases you entered.

For example, if you are interested in finding web pages about either "cats" or "dogs", you can use the search query "cats OR dogs" to display results that contain either "cats" or "dogs", or both.

" "

This operator allows you to search for an exact phrase or word by putting it in quotation marks. When you use this operator, Google will only display results that include the exact phrase or word you have enclosed in quotation marks.

For instance, if you want to find pages that contain the exact phrase "coding is fun" (because, let's face it, it is), you can use the search query "coding is fun" (with the quotation marks) to display results that only include that exact phrase, rather than pages that contain the words "coding" and "fun" separately.

However, keep in mind that using quotation marks may limit your search results if the exact phrase you are searching for is not commonly used on web pages. In such cases, you might want to try other search operators or search for individual words instead.

AND

When it comes to Google search, the "AND" operator is your go-to for combining search terms and getting more targeted results. By using "AND" between your keywords or phrases, you can tell Google to find pages that include all of the specified terms.

For instance, let's say you're on the hunt for web pages that delve into both "artificial intelligence" and "machine learning". Simply pop in the search query "artificial intelligence AND machine learning", and Google will present you with results that focus on the sweet spot where these two subjects intersect.

The "AND" operator is a nifty tool for refining your search and getting results that contain all the important keywords you're after. It helps weed out irrelevant pages that may only cover one of the terms you're interested in.

-

The "-" operator? It's like a secret weapon in the realm of Google search. This great trick lets you get rid of specific terms from your search results. Just place that "-" before a keyword or phrase, and Google will keep those unwanted results at bay.

Imagine this: you're on a mission to unravel the mysteries of cats but couldn't care less about anything dog-related. No worries! Simply enter "cats -dogs" in the search box, and Google will make sure those doggo pages mentioning dogs stay far away from your search results. Now you can focus on the feline wisdom you seek.

The "-" operator is a reliable ally when it comes to refining your search. It helps you weed out unrelated topics or specific terms that might lead you astray. With this trusty tool, you can filter out the noise and zero in on the information you're truly after.

A word of caution, though: remember to stick those terms together without a space when using the "-" operator. Oh, and keep an eye out not to accidentally exclude essential keywords that are key to finding what you need.

*

"*" operator is like a secret code hidden within Google's search realm. Any word you can't remember, you can use asterisk operator instead.

Picture this: you're desperately trying to recall a quote or phrase, but some words escape your memory. Just replace those elusive words with "*", and Google will work its magic to fill in the gaps. For example, searching "a * saved is a * earned" will reveal the missing pieces and complete the famous saying:

A penny saved is a penny earned.

There's more! The "*" operator loves to play with variations. If you're seeking different versions of a word or phrase, this wildcard character is your trusty companion. Simply include it in your search, and watch as Google uncovers a treasure trove of results. Searching "beauty * the beholder" will lead you to variations like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "beauty lies in the beholder's perception." It's like a linguistic research!

Imagine you stumble upon a phrase but get stuck on a single mysterious word. The asterisk will come to your aid once again. Just replace that puzzling word with "*", and Google will present you with a selection of possibilities. For instance, searching "the * of the fittest" will introduce you to options like "survival of the fittest" or "adaptation of the fittest."

(...)


Parentheses, the "()" advanced search operator in Google, let you group search terms and control how they're understood by the search engine. With parentheses, you can create intricate search queries with multiple criteria and specify the order in which Google processes the terms.

Here are a few ways you can take advantage of parentheses in your searches:

  • Grouping search terms: Use parentheses to group related search terms together, treating them as a single unit. For instance, if you're looking for information on both cats and dogs but want to focus on their diet, you can search for "cat (diet OR nutrition) dogs". This query tells Google to find results mentioning either "cat diet" or "cat nutrition" in addition to "dogs".
  • Controlling operator precedence: Parentheses help you determine the order in which operators are applied. When combining multiple operators like AND, OR, and NOT in a search query, using parentheses specifies which operators should be evaluated first. For example, if you're seeking web pages about either "dogs" or "cats" that also include the term "pets", you can search "(dogs OR cats) AND pets". This ensures that the OR operator is evaluated first, followed by the AND operator.
  • Creating intricate queries: By combining parentheses with other advanced search operators, you can devise sophisticated and precise search queries. For instance, when looking for academic articles on a specific topic, you can search "site:example.com (intitle:research OR intitle:study) (inurl:article OR inurl:paper)" to find articles or papers specifically related to research or studies within the example.com website.

allinurl

The "allinurl:" search trick in Google lets you find web pages that have all the specified keywords in their URLs. By using this trick followed by a keyword or phrase, you can tell Google to show only the results where all the terms appear in the URL.

Here are some important points to grasp and make the most of the "allinurl:" trick in your searches:

Finding specific URLs: Use the "allinurl:" trick to locate web pages with URLs containing specific keywords or phrases. For instance, if you want pages related to gardening tips, try searching "allinurl:gardening tips". The results will only display pages with "gardening" and "tips" in their URLs.

  • Combining with other tricks: You can combine the "allinurl:" trick with other search tricks to refine your search further. For example, pair it with the "site:" trick to search for specific terms within URLs of a particular website. For instance, search "site:wikipedia.org allinurl:artificial intelligence" to get results from Wikipedia with "artificial intelligence" in their URLs.
  • Narrowing down search results: The "allinurl:" trick helps narrow down your search results by focusing on web page URLs. This is particularly handy when you're seeking specific information within a particular website or domain.
  • Word order matters: Remember, the order of terms after the "allinurl:" trick does make a difference. Google will look for URLs that contain all the specified terms in the exact order you provide.

allintext:

The "allintext:" search operator in Google is a powerful tool that helps you find web pages containing all the specified keywords within their body text. By using this operator followed by a keyword or phrase, you can instruct Google to show results where all the specified terms appear in the body text of the web page.

Here are some essential tips to make the most of the "allintext:" operator in your searches:

  • Searching within page content: The "allintext:" operator allows you to narrow down your search to web pages that have specific keywords or phrases within their content. For instance, if you're keen on finding web pages discussing the "effects of climate change," you can use the search query "allintext:effects of climate change." This will display results that include all the specified terms within the body text.
  • Getting precise results: By employing the "allintext:" operator, you can refine your search and focus on finding web pages that contain the exact combination of keywords you specify. This ensures that all the specified terms appear together in the body text, enabling you to find information that directly relates to your query.
  • Combining with other operators: You can combine the "allintext:" operator with other advanced search operators to customize your search even further. For example, you can pair it with the "site:" operator to search for specific terms within the content of a particular website. If you're looking for information on "artificial intelligence" within the Wikipedia website, you can search "site:wikipedia.org allintext:artificial intelligence" to see results containing that precise phrase within their body text.
  • Focusing your search: The "allintext:" operator helps you narrow down your search results by concentrating on the textual content of web pages. This can be especially handy when you're seeking specific information within a particular topic or subject.

These 16 Advanced Search Operators are so beneficial that any researcher should know about to use them in their research processes.

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