What is Google Search Operator and How it refines Google Search Query?

Google Search Operator seems like a difficult term, LOL, don’t worry it isn’t, let’s make it easy. Let me make it understandable by saying that Google Search operators are merely some format of commands that refines your Google Search Query.

For example: Suppose you want to find out, say CBSE Class 10th Mathematics syllabus in PDF format, then, what’s your search query in Google? I mean what you search in Google to get CBSE Class 10th Mathematics Syllabus in PDF format. Most of you simply search by typing CBSE Class 10th Mathematics Syllabus in PDF. There is nothing wrong with this query but that’s not the perfect way. I mean you may get your syllabus but this method kills more time. With this method you get search results that are totally irrelevant of what you want. Let me test it out in real to take it as an example.

Below I post two screenshot of the results I get when search for a query. The screenshot in the left shows the results which I get when not using Google search operator. However, the screenshot in the right shows results which I get when using Google Search Operator. Compare yourself which one is better.

I think you have chosen the second one, because the result is straightforward here. You get the syllabus in PDF format and you won’t have to further go inside a page and search for it.

This is what search operator is, it makes your search query more refine and will save some of your time.

There are a variety of search operators Google have and below we list out all of them.

List of some popular Google Search Operator

“Query”

If you want to find out an exact term present in search result you could place that term inside double quote and search for it. This way Google present you only those results that have this exact term. For example, Suppose you search for “best phones in India”, this query present you only those results which have this exact search term. Now, one question you might ask, from which part of the result google compare your query to present you some results. Well, the answer is Google match your query with the most common parts of a search results like Title, Slug (also called as URL), Meta Description.

OR

Those of you who have read Discrete Mathematics or Digital Logic must familiar with OR. You can use this query in conditions where you want results in the format, find Term A or Term B or Both. In place of OR you could also use the pipe i.e. | and it will bring you the same result.

AND

Like OR operator AND operator is used in cases when you want to both the two terms to appear in the search result. for example, You feed a query in google CBSE Maths Syllabus Class 10th AND 2019. This operator however, not make any difference because by default Google using this operator for normal search query.

–

There are some cases where you want to exclude some term to appear in search result. Well, In those cases you can use this operator. For example, Best Phones under 20000 in India – Nokia. Now, what does this query mean? Well this query brings only those results that have the term Best Phones Under 20000 in India but not have the term Nokia.

Define

Do you know that Google search has a built in Dictionary and with the use of define operator you can activate it. There are cases when you want to find the meaning of a term. In those cases all you have to do is, put define: before the term, and Google will return you the meaning of that term. For example, suppose you want to find the meaning of term say Operator, then you can search for define:Operator.

filetype:

You can use filetype: operator to bring only those results that have the specified file type. for example, CBSE Class 12th Maths Syllabus 2019 filetype:pdf. I already share with you the screenshot of this query above in this post.

intitle:searchterm

This operator tracks down only those results that have the search term in the title. for example, Suppose you want only those results that have the term CBSE in the title, then your query will be intitle:CBSE.

allintitle:searchterm

Suppose you want only those results which have all the terms in the title. For example, allintitle:CBSE Maths Syllabus Class 12th. Now, it will track down only those result which have this exact phrase i.e. CBSE Maths Syllabus Class 12th appear in results title.

inurl:searchterm

Just like intitle if you want to match an exact term in url you could use this search operator.

allinurl:searchterm

Similar to allintitle, if you want to filter out only those results in which anywhere in the URL match the exact phrase you search.

intext:searchterm

If you want to find out a term or set of terms distributed anywhere inside the search result you could use this operator in the above format.

allintext:searchterm

If you want to filter only those results inside which the text or texts match the exact phrase we search, then use this operator.

movie:moviename

If you want to know about a particular movie, like it’s showtime near you, release date, cast etc then, in that case you can use this query.

weather:placename

You can use this search term to find the weather in your city or near you.

stocks:stockname

You can even use Google search to display the stock price of a mutual fund or stock. All you have to mention the stock name or mutual fund in the above format.

Sky’s are just the limit you can find more Google Search Operators by going to Google Advanced Search. See the below screenshot to know how to access Google Advanced Search.

Once you open Google Advanced search panel there you’ll see several fields by which leads you to refine your search query more.

Go try yourself and comment below some new search operator you discover.

Read also: Refine Your Google Search by Using After and Before Command