Google has many hidden functions, and most accessible from the main search box. This article describes a few of these.
Google
is widely known as the Internet’s best search engine. Everybody with access to the internet uses Google at some point to scour the depths of the web for a particular web page, or a certain piece of information.
However, Google has several built in functions that help you to make your searches more successful, and to enable you to spend less time searching! The following is a list of 5 functions, all accessible from the main Google search box, which will help you find that snippet of information you are looking for.
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Removing Unwanted Pages
Ever searched for something before, and had a whole list of completely irrelevant web pages come up? This is annoying at the best of times, as it takes time to check and read through the list of sites and find the one you actually want.
For example, if you were looking for a review of the book “Eragon”, and you typed into Google “Eragon review”, many of the links listed are reviews of the movie, not the book. Because you are not looking for a review of the movie, you can remove all pages relevant to the movie by adding “-movie” to the end of your search terms.
This will now display all the pages relevant to “eragon review”, but not relevant to “movie”.
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Calculator
Google can be used as a calculator, answering anything from the simplest math to the most complex equation. Just enter your math question, and Google will display the answer.
+ is used to add terms, – to subtract terms, * to multiply terms, and / to divide terms. Besides these basic operators, you can use ^ to work out something to the power of something (for example, “2^4” would be 2 to the power of 4), and “sqrt” to calculate the square root of a number (for example, “sqrt 4” would be the square root of 4).
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Dictionary Definitions
By typing “define:” before a word, Google will retrieve and display a list of dictionary definitions for that word.
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Search A Single Website
If you type “site:” and then a website after a search term, Google will search for your term(s) in only the site dictated. For example, the following search will search Oxford University’s Website for the term “prospectus.”
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Search for A Specific File Type
As I am sure you are aware, there are many files hosted on the internet besides the standard html websites. Therefore, searching for a specific type of file could make your search a lot easier. For example, if you were looking for a PDF version of the iPhone manual, you could use the following search, which would produce more accurate (and less) results.
Here the “filetype:” tool is making Google search the web for PDF files only, therefore eliminating any pages that we didn’t want to see.
These are just 5 useful functions that Google can perform, there are many more for you to discover, and they can all be mixed and matched! I hope this helped you to find that ever-elusive page or snippet of info. Have fun, and happy searching!
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Really cool! I didn’t know any of these things!
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
If you use google you should all know about those functions. LAME NEWS
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
If your name’s Zippy, then you’re lame.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
i agree with zippy
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Thanks for the article!
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
LOL, you’re a smidgen dorkier than the average internet user if you already knew these. It’s not like google advertises their calculator functionality.
This article was really helpful, especially the definition function.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Zippy I cant take you anywhere can I
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
define: shameful
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I knew the dictionary one, but none others…
THANKS!
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
ye v cool
zippys mum is hot
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Knew the other 4 but did not know the definition: one.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Nah, zippy’s right… but it’s understandable too, the writer’s clearly British, they probably just have an older internet than we do, so this is news to them
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Nice try assuming what I don’t know.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
it can also convert units
“20F in C”
“20mm in in”
“5km in miles”
very useful to me
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Hi guys! I’m tiny and nobody ever touches me except Zippy
! I’m lonely!
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
it’s spelled antidisestablishmentarianism
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
If you didn’t know these you should be using Yahoo! search. This is now on Digg, and has been BURIED AS LAME.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I knew all that stuff already. Damn you, internet, for lying to me!
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Of all the cool, unknown things that Google can do, you pick these five things? These are pretty basic Google Search functionality. What about the backward links function? That’s pretty cool and unknown to the majority of users.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
also converts currency.
20 dollars = ? liras
for example..
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Really. It isn’t. Try typing in something like 4 + 2 with autocomplete on, and google will FILL IN THE ANSWER for you!
It actually gets much more powerful, because it contains universal constants and can do unit conversions. Makes calculating results with inordinately long sets of terms dependent on c, e, planck’s constant, pi, the permittivity of free space, etc. etc., when working with numbers in angstroms, kilopounds, fortnights, and other bizarre units much easier. I’m always surprised by how many constants it just has stored.
- is in just about everyone’s guide to efficient searching, regardless of engine; I’m a little surprised at people not knowing that one. I guess I can understand not having seen the ones requiring specific entries like definition:, site:, and filetype:. As stated, google doesn’t exactly advertise them but they’re easy enough to find.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
For the average working class citizen who has a job and a house and doesn’t spend countless hours on the internet but rather engaging with others in real life, this article was very useful. Thanks for the info.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Also there is a currency converter… but I don’t remember how it works exactly…
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Obviously you found this article on digg, so shut your damm trap fool. clearly you’re not as average as you describe.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
But thats only ne thing i didnt know google could do. I knew about number 2, 3, 4 and 5…
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I never thought about using Google as a calculator. You’ve just saved me about 10 minutes a day by my estimate. Thanks!
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
#21 you must be the biggest nerd ever.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Well, I already knew these things; being a bit of a dork, I taught Myself, who told Me everything. The three of us can be pretty smart when we put our minds together.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
You can also get currency changes by doing this.
18,000 JYP in USD
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Umm, I knew about all five. Also, enter a UPS tracking number into the search bar to track a package.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Old news(and anyone who didn’t already know how to do exclusionary search terms should turn off their computer and go back to playing Halo)
If you want something really powerful try inurl: and intitle:
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I like the color blue
Zippy doesn’t have a clue
doesn’t help that he aint nice
If he’d stop choking on *rooster* and thought twice
He’d realize that some folks on the web are new
Against the sky flies a gull
He’s mouth is wide, sex life null
So spread the knowledge all day long
Imma take a nap after I hit my bong
Then I’ll mount Zippy’s mom like a raging bull
yeah, flammed
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Can google tell me if it is normal for one of my testicles to be bigger than the other two?
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
you can also use google to track packages
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Oh my Gawd! There is porn on the intarweb?!?!
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
How can I search if Google loves me for me and not just the sex?
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
jeez, have you guys been living under a rock for the past few years?!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
\”If you use google you should all know about those functions. LAME NEWS\”
Zippy, first you imply that this information is important then you say it\’s lame. Grow up.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
This should really be filed under “If you’ve never used the Internet before.”
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
You had computers in 4th grade?
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I invented the internet
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Emptywallet + Google = Fullwallet
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
… therfore I knew them all.
And in fact Zippy’s right!!!
And the article’s headline is wrong.
I never use 3. and 5., because I find no need for them.
Regarding the calculator:
People who didn’t know about it, probably don’t know how advaced it is… including the author of the article (I guess).
Try typing:
40 mpg in km/l
or
1 EUR in USD (WHOAAAAH USD is for loosers)
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Emptywallet + Google = Fullwallet
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
i didnt know about number 5, but i doubt id use it anyway.
seeing how all of you are so clever, how can i find the artist of a particular song thru a google search? i know some of the lyrics.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Tell us the lyrics
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
@UberZippy
Yahoo! Search has the same features.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Zippys of the world unite!!!!!!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
“#44 by SatanusMaximus, Apr 2, 2008
Can google tell me if it is normal for one of my testicles to be bigger than the other two?”
its not normal, because you have 3. don’t be lame.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
HAAAAAA you guise our thick!
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
If you already know more than #1 and kept reading AND took time to post you may need a life. digg that!
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I liked the definition method.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
define: LAME
Results:
This article.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
7A 69 70 70 79 6F 77 6E 73 79 6F 75 72 61 73 73 2C 79 6F 75 66 75 63 6B 69 6E 67 70 61 74 68 65 74 69 63 6C 6F 73 65 72 73
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I have not seen Zippy. If any one sees him, tell him he needs to finish his cream pie.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I have not seen Zippy. If any one sees him, tell him he needs to finish his cream pie.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
you anoobises probably dont know about elgoog either…haha
im teh leet ezt pWnr
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
try write: find chuck norris and press the “i fell lucky” button
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
7a 69 70 70 79 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 61 73 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I like to look at old women in my spare time (which I have alot of cause i’m a loser with no real friends)
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I knew Google could do all of this. I’ve known for years. Lame news.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
Excuse me everyone… Zippy would like everyone to know how clever he is because he “already knows” how to do all of this. Therefore: if you didn’t know any of this before, Zippy is better than you.
Kudos Zippy, for pointing that out. We are all the wiser for having read it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 am
yeah, well, I knew…
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 am
of course i know this lol
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 am
LOL. This list is weak… if you didn’t know google could do this stuff, you really shouldn’t be using the internet. I mean, just about every search engine can (and has been able to) use boolean search functions (ie: -movie +lyrics) for well over 10 years now.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 am
nice ones..
I did not know the 3rd tip..
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:06 am
moo
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 am
this is so 1999.
technically the article should be titled “Five Things Some People Didn’t Know Google Could Do”
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 am
LAME!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:21 am
wow. Incredible features. But even more incredible is that there are still people out there who obviously don’t know about these. Living under rocks, probably.
Author, you forgot the top feature we don’t know about: search things?
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 am
who made it delicious hot list topic.. i have seen these kinda things so many many times.. LAME..
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 am
shaun in ozzie here mate. I’ll stick another prawn on the barbie for ya mate. Bonza info mate cos I piss around all over the place sometimes mate tryin to find me stuff I’a after. Good one Trevor, good one.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 am
If you didn’t know at lease 2 of these you need orientation on what the internet is. Google have had the advanced search link on their home page since their intro. its all been there.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
Another definition search is easier (less typing): just type in what you are looking for. On the right side of the screen it will say Results 1-10 of xxxx and then the word you searched for. If it is displayed as a link, click it…. There you are: your dictionary definition!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 am
yeah, those pics are probalby photoshopped
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 am
Yes, I know all 5 of them and use them regularly.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:19 am
I actually knew all of these already.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 am
boring article
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 am
It can also spell a number to words, try: 29848 in words
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
Image search can be used to search for images containing faces
http://images.google.com/images?&q=zippy
http://images.google.com/images?&q=zippy&imgtype=face
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
Why is it that everyone resorts to quite unnecessary bad language and rudeness? So some of you are cleverer than others, but that’s no excuse. Maybe there are things they know you don’t. The most useful comment has been where to find this sort of information about Google possiblities. Not all of us had computers at school – I was lucky to have a pencil, dip-in-ink pen and a BRAIN, which I was taught to use.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 am
Thanks for this great article! It is very useful
I knew none of these, ignore the rude comments above, as they don’t understand that other people may not already know this, after all, you have to learn it somewhere
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 am
It´s easy to learn such tricks by using google itself.
I am surprised. Too many people didn´t know the advanced google searching features …
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 am
the only one i knew was “define:”, i probably wont use them but its good to know the calculator one incase i dont have one around
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 am
Crap. I thought there would be at least ONE I didn’t already know.
After all, the title of the article did say there were five things that I specifically did not know.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
Next you should do the same article on Excel and show the sorting and formulas, then Outlook showing the rules and find option, then every other peice of popular software or web tool. I bet the people that need these articles will also click on ads. You’re the best.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
It kinda sucked cause i knew how to do all of that exept for the last one, plus u can find that all when you click on advanced search…
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Pay no attention attention to them… they seem to have an opinion on everything. Mostly the opinion is defined in one word…lame. Windows…lame. Bush…lame. Obama …lame. Hillery and Bill…double lame. Anyone who actually knows real girls…lame! Linux…. totally awesome and the answer to all the worlds problems! My opinion… Digg regulars…LAME!
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
I knew some of the things and some did not know…yeah was good
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
If you all knew this why did you go to the article i the first place?
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
its also very usefull as a money converter. i.e put in,
“$10 to pounds” and youl get your answer
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
old info but a good refresher nonetheless.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 pm
It can also convert Imperial system measurements to Metric and vise versa.
For example, type “35 miles”.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:04 am
this was lame news
April 4th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Cool!
April 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
thanks so much to all the internet fascists out there who assume that everyone knows this stuff. if you feel that your time was wasted reading this because you are all so clever already, why did you further waste your oh so valuable time trying to belittle others who may have found this information useful. if we all assumed everyone knew everything we knew, the world would be a exceedingly dumb place.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Thank you for the information. I didn’t know these.
April 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Not everyone knows this stuff so those of you that felt your time was wasted why don’t you stop wasting other people’s time with your LAME condescending remarks.
You people=FAIL
Nice article, thanks
April 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
*Yawn*. Old news my friend.
April 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
ughh i knew all of this, i should have made this article myself
-.- kind of suprising that people didnt know you could do “define:” i use it all the time
April 4th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Google does many things.. not sure i care..
http://marketinggraham.blogspot.com/
April 4th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Actually this is kindergarten stuff! Basics everybody should and probably already knows!
April 5th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Great. Amazing!
April 5th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Thanks!
It’s very helpful!
April 6th, 2008 at 8:41 am
THANK YOU !!!!!
April 7th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Wow! So many useful things. Thanks.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I never new any of that. I found it to be very interesting.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I never new any of that. I found it to be very interesting.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I never new any of that. I found it to be very interesting.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I knew most of these already.
April 12th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Had already Known them all, although good for newbies…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I know a whole bunch of other things about Google that everyone should know before they get a license to use a computer. Once they are posted, I will tell you that I already knew them. So there
April 13th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
When researching the calculating Google, I also discovered that it acts as a currency converter
Lets say you want to find out what $$3CDN(canadian) is in GBP’s(british pounds):
u type: 3CDN in GBP
You have to know ur accronyms though!
April 17th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
You spelt antidisestablishmentarianism wrong
*shakes head* good page though
April 26th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Did any of you clever cats know you can use your calculator as a calculator? It’s pretty crap at finding websites and other info though.
But on a calculator if you type in 55378008, then turn the calculator upside down, you will have a very amusing surprise. Can google do that? I don’t think so… Google shmoogle, that’s what I say.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Its spelled disestablishmentarianism and 55378008 upside down on a calc is boobless.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Its spelled disestablishmentarianism and 55378008 upside down on a calc is boobless.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:10 am
apparently can be used for searching the internet too…what will these google boys & girls thing of next…amazing!
April 29th, 2008 at 1:28 am
cool article dude! i never knew that google could do that!! haha, but i did know that you can actually view, pan and tilt remote security cameras! its hilarious, heres the link:
http://tinyurl.com/2s4×6q
April 29th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Do you guys really think that the author is giving a damn? He is probably there having fun watching his revenue on this article grow.
I think Triond needs to be better regarding which articles to put on the Hot Spot. Yeah, I know it is based on how many viewers view it, but I am sure they can do something.
April 29th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
…but i don’t see him on the hot users list. if you are a hot user, you probably have good revenue coming in. props eimaj. BOOOO zippy.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:05 am
I memorized few with full syntax but actually knew that all those features are avaible in Google.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Zippy, OMG, I meant the Hot Content dude…Why do you do this to me?
April 30th, 2008 at 10:17 am
First i thought the article was nice. some new tips. But then i started reading the comments…n i cldnt stop laughing!! they overshadow the article…
i dunno if this article was abt google or the lame zippy who needs to get a life. hez been giving the author more hits on the article than anybody else im sure.
Eimaj, i think u must thank zippy!! he must have made u some bucks.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
you forgot to mention what happens when you type Chuck norris
May 18th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Sad state of affairs when these six year olds (mental age) think that their comments are smart saying this is lame or that is lame – If you are so clever why are you here? Why not go and do the same as Zippy, both mentally and physically. Perhaps you might just pull it off!! Oh I forgot – you probably cannot get it up in the first place ;^)
May 19th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Nice article.Thanks!!!
April 25th, 2009 at 12:27 am
meow
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
too bad the calculator function doesn’t solve algebreic equations
October 14th, 2009 at 8:42 am
right all of these thing millions of peapole know and are achaly useless i made them in about 5 mins in uni