When you dive into the world of web browsing. You might have noticed that when you open a new tab in the Google Chrome browser, it presents you with a choice: “Search Google” or “Type a URL.” But what’s the difference, and which one should you choose? We are here to cover all the aspects and best practices of when to choose which option for better outcomes.

What is Search Google or Type a URL?

The phrase “Search Google or type a URL” appears in the address bar (also known as the Omnibox) of the Google Chrome browser. When you open a new tab, it gives you two options:

Search Google: This allows you to search for something on the internet using keywords or sentences. For example, if you want to hire a seo company , you can search for the “Best SEO outsourcing company.

Type a URL: This means entering the address of a specific website directly. For example, typing “https://www.sketchish.com/blogs/best-seo-outsourcing-company” would take you to that website you are searching for.

What are Search Engines?

A search engine is like a digital detective—it scours the vast expanse of the World Wide Web (WWW) to find relevant information based on what users are looking for. Google is one of the most popular search engine. It’s like your personal librarian, helping you access and explore web content efficiently.

How Does a Search Engine Work?

To find the correct answer, whether you should search on Google or type a URL, it’s mandatory to have a basic understanding of how search engines work.

Web Crawling: First, search engines release their web crawlers (also known as spiders or bots). These digital explorers navigate the web by following links from one page to another. They collect web pages by crawling. (On average, Google can crawl millions to billions of pages per day across the entire web.)

HTML Extracting: Once the crawlers find a page, they download its HTML content. Google is not a fan of Javascript, CSS or other languages, Nor interested in fancy formatting or images. So, they strip away the HTML tags only.

Indexing: The extracted content gets organized and stored in a structured database called an index. Think of it as a massive catalog of web pages and their info. Each term (like keywords) is linked to the pages where it appears. This index helps the search engine connect the dots.

Ranking: When you type a query, the search engine’s ranking algorithms kick in. They sort through the indexed content, evaluating which pages are most relevant to your search. The top results will appear on your screen.

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Popular Search Engines Worldwide

1. Google

‍At the top of search engines list, we find Google. With a whopping 91% market share as of July 2024, Google is the go-to for most users. It’s not just a search engine, It is a bundle of Maps, YouTube and many tools and applications. Google offers a whole ecosystem. However, privacy-conscious users sometimes seek alternatives due to data collection concerns.

2. Microsoft Bing

‍Microsoft’s creation, Bing, holds the second spot. Its 3.74% market share might not rival Google, but it shines in multimedia searches, especially images and videos. Plus, Bing rewards you with points for searching, redeemable for gift cards or donations. In 2023, it introduced an AI-powered search assistant called Copilot.

3. DuckDuckGo

‍Privacy warriors, first choice! DuckDuckGo prioritizes your data privacy. It doesn’t track or store your info, yet it serves up relevant results. You can even use search operators for lightning-fast queries. Just type “Digital Marketing Packages'' to land directly on Sketchish’s digital marketing packages collection.

4. Ecosia

‍This eco-friendly search engine plants trees with its ad revenue. Yes, you read that right! Ecosia donates to tree-planting initiatives worldwide. So, while you search, you’re also helping the planet.

Latest Features of Google Search

Here we explore the fascinating features of Google Search, including the magic of autocomplete, voice search, and advanced search options.

Autocomplete (Predictions)

‍Autocomplete is like having a helpful friend who finishes your sentences. As you type in the search box, Google predicts what you’re looking for and offers suggestions.

How It Works:

• Available on Google’s home page, the Google app, Android quick search, and Chrome’s address bar.

• Start typing, and predictions appear. For example, typing “sketchish” might suggest “sketchish packages” or “sketchish linkedin.”

• It’s a massive time-saver, especially on mobile devices.

• Predictions are based on real searches, location, and your previous queries.

• Google removes inappropriate or harmful predictions.

Voice Search: ‍

Talk to Google like you’re chatting with a friend. Use your voice to search without typing.

How It Works:

• Activate voice search (usually a microphone icon) on your device.

• Speak your query naturally (e.g., “What’s the weather today?”).

• Google processes your voice and provides results.

Advanced Search Options:

‍Google’s secret toolbox for power users.

How to Access:

• On your computer, visit Google Advanced Search.

• Or, from the Google results page, click the gear icon and choose “Advanced search.”

• Refine searches by exact words, exclude terms, specify language, region, and more.

• Use operators like “intitle:” (search in page titles) or “filetype:” (specific file formats).

• Explore filters for images, videos, shopping and books.

When to Type a URL?

1. Speed and Direct Access: When you know the exact URL of a website, typing it directly allows you to bypass search engines and other intermediaries. This results in faster access to the desired content. For frequently visited sites, this efficiency can add up over time.

2. Reduced Irrelevant Search Results: By typing the URL, you avoid the risk of encountering unrelated search results. Sometimes, search engines may return pages that are not directly related to what you’re looking for. Type a URL can be relevant at that time.

3. Reliability: Knowing reliable URLs for frequently visited sites is important. It helps you avoid phishing scams or accidentally landing on malicious websites. Familiarity with trusted URLs helps in your online security.

4. Privacy Matters: Some searches are personal (like medical info). Typing the URL directly avoids leaving traces in your search history.

Remember to bookmark your favorite sites for even quicker access!

Tips for Effective Google Searches

• Use Quotes for Exact Matches: When you want precise results, wrap your search query in double quotes (e.g., “web design principles”). Google will find pages containing the exact phrase you specified.

• Search Within a Specific Site: Add site: followed by the website domain to limit results to that site (e.g., site:wikipedia.org artificial intelligence).

• Exclude Terms with Minus (-): To exclude specific terms from your results, use a minus sign (e.g., “healthy recipes -sugar”).

• Search Images of a Specific Size: Use image size: followed by dimensions (e.g., imagesize:500x500 cute cat). Google will show images with those dimensions.

• Find Specific File Types: Use filetype: followed by the extension (e.g., web design tutorial filetype:pdf).

• Filter Results by Date: Click “Tools” under the search bar and choose a date range (e.g., results from the past year).

• Search for Specific TLDs: Use site:.edu or site:.gov to find educational or government sites.

Refining your search queries can save time and help you find exactly what you need!

Remember, whether you’re Googling or typing URLs, your online journey is about exploration, learning, and connecting with valuable content.

Happy browsing!