Advanced Google Searches

• Search for an exact word or phrase.

  This is something almost everyone knows about. Place quote marks around the word or phrase you want. Be careful, though, because you can easily exclude otherwise relevant search results.

  
  Example:  "3 db hybrid coupler"  returns only pages containing every character in that exact phrase.

• Exclude a particular word or words.

  Most people know about this one, too. Place a - (dash) before a word or site to exclude all results that include that word.

  Example:  filter -water -oil  returns pages with all types of filters without the words 'water' or 'oil' on them.

• Search within a site or domain.

  Limit search results to those coming from a specific website by using site:URL along with the search term(s). The other special characters can be used as well. The site:URL directive can be placed before or after the search term(s).

  Example:  site:www.linxtechnologies.com gps  returns pages with 'gps' on them, and then only from

                   the Linx Technologies website.

• Search for pages that link to a URL.

  Find web pages that contain a hyperlink pointing to a particular URL by using link:URL.

  Example:  link:anatechelectronics.com  returns all web pages that contain a link to the Anatech Electronics

                   website. Don't think that those returned are the only pages on the entire Internet that point to

                   that website because even Google has only a small fraction of all web pages in its database.

                   You can also search down to a specific page on a website, as in

                   link:http://www.awrcorp.com/product-overview.

• Search for pages that are similar to a URL.

  To find sites that are similar to a URL you already know, use the related: operator.

  Example:  related:ferrishield.com  returns web pages from sites similar to FerriShield. These are known

                   as competitors, like 3Gmetalworx, Fotofab, and Orbel.

• Include a wildcard character.

  The * (asterisk) character is used a placeholder in a string of words. One exception to be careful of is that when used between two numbers, it is interpreted as a 'multiply' operator.

  Example:  "university of" * "department of engineering"  returns pages with the exact phrase "university of

                  and then any word or words and then the exact phrase department of engineering. Note that

                  this combines the exact word or phrase method along with the wildcard character.

• Search for either word.

  The OR keyword (must be capitalized) performs a logical OR function to search for specific words without requiring that all the words be present on the web page.

  
  Example:  isolator OR circulator "waveguide"  returns pages with either isolator or circulator on them that

                  also includes the word waveguide (combines two special search methods).

• Search for a number range.

  Placing .. (two periods) between two numbers (without space) returns pages with a numerical series bounded by the low and high number. Use the .. operator after a number to return only numbers equal to or greater than that lower bound, or use the .. operator before a number to define an upper bound. It works for entities like dates, prices, and measurements.

  Example:  10..50 mhz oscillator  returns web pages containing information on oscillators in the

                   10 to 50 MHz range.  ..50 mhz oscillator returns only pages with oscillators equal to or

                   less than 50 MHz.

There may be other special operators that can be used. Please let me know if you know of any.

Posted  November 11, 2013