In order to search information on Google, we need to type a
query into the query box. The entered query is then interpreted by Google
applying various relevancy factors and the best results are presented before
you within a few microseconds. However, the searched query is always
highlighted in bold, which gives you an idea about the kind of information you
are searching on Google and where has Google found those words in the web
document in order to determine the relevancy of the fetched results. It is
better to mention that the returned results are based on several other rankingfactors (over 200).
query into the query box. The entered query is then interpreted by Google
applying various relevancy factors and the best results are presented before
you within a few microseconds. However, the searched query is always
highlighted in bold, which gives you an idea about the kind of information you
are searching on Google and where has Google found those words in the web
document in order to determine the relevancy of the fetched results. It is
better to mention that the returned results are based on several other rankingfactors (over 200).
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How a query gets highlighted in Google?
Suppose, we are searching for the term “paradise lost”, the
results that are returned are explained below:-
results that are returned are explained below:-
Searching on the title tag
If the query is found on the title tag, it gets displayed in
bold. For example a search for the query “human mind” returns documents having
the phrase in the title tag.
bold. For example a search for the query “human mind” returns documents having
the phrase in the title tag.
Searching on the description tag
If the query is found the description tag, it gets displayed
in bold. For example a search for the query “human mind” returns documents
having the phrase in the description tag.
in bold. For example a search for the query “human mind” returns documents
having the phrase in the description tag.
Searching on the web document
If the query is displayed on any part of the web document,
it gets displayed in bold. For example a search for the query “human mind”
returns documents having the phrase anywhere in the web document.
it gets displayed in bold. For example a search for the query “human mind”
returns documents having the phrase anywhere in the web document.
Other variations
Same order
If the query appears in the same order as of search phrase
then highlighting occurs only once. This happens in most of the cases. In some
cases, it may be highlighted more than once.
then highlighting occurs only once. This happens in most of the cases. In some
cases, it may be highlighted more than once.
Distributed order
If the query appears in distributed or scattered order then
separate search terms present on the query gets highlighted.
separate search terms present on the query gets highlighted.
Ignoring the tenses
In some queries, the tenses get ignored and the tense
variations of the main query get displayed. For example if you are searching
for “get to know” then Google might also search for “getting to know” ignoring
the tense. This happens with most of the queries. The search terms “getting to
know” is highlighted even if you are searching for “get to know”. In another
case, searching for the phrase “he is innocent” returns results having the
words “he was innocent”, thus ignoring the tense.
variations of the main query get displayed. For example if you are searching
for “get to know” then Google might also search for “getting to know” ignoring
the tense. This happens with most of the queries. The search terms “getting to
know” is highlighted even if you are searching for “get to know”. In another
case, searching for the phrase “he is innocent” returns results having the
words “he was innocent”, thus ignoring the tense.
Ignoring the stop words
Google ignores the stop words while searching for exact
match of the query in the web documents. For example, search for “what is the
height of Eiffel Tower” returns web documents where only “Height” + “Eiffel” +
“Tower” gets highlighted. This does not happens in all the cases, documents
having all the words in the same order as of the search query also get
highlighted. But the point is, Google ignores the stop words while searching
for web documents and might not highlight your main query words in the same
number. In another example, for the query “Rabbit and Jack”, “and” gets ignored
as a stop word and results with “Jack Rabbit” gets displayed.
match of the query in the web documents. For example, search for “what is the
height of Eiffel Tower” returns web documents where only “Height” + “Eiffel” +
“Tower” gets highlighted. This does not happens in all the cases, documents
having all the words in the same order as of the search query also get
highlighted. But the point is, Google ignores the stop words while searching
for web documents and might not highlight your main query words in the same
number. In another example, for the query “Rabbit and Jack”, “and” gets ignored
as a stop word and results with “Jack Rabbit” gets displayed.
Includes Synonyms
A search for the query “Japanese food” returns results
containing words “Japanese cuisine”. This means Google includes the synonyms
and highlights it in the search results page.
containing words “Japanese cuisine”. This means Google includes the synonyms
and highlights it in the search results page.
(A part of Seo research series by Joydeep Bhattacharya)
Also See:-
