Advanced Google Features

Unbeknown to most, the seemingly simple Google Search box is really very powerful. The following examples are just some of the ways that Google Search can be used.

Google Calculator

Google allows you to do calculations right in the search box. You can do basic arithmetic (+, -, /, *) but it also allows for a few other calculations.

Examples: Percentage of: 45% of 39 Raise to a power: 2^5 or 2**5 Convert Units: 300 Euros in USD

Google Safe Search

Every now and then you want to search for a topic that you know may return some adult results. For those of us that don't want to be bothered with adult content, Google has provided a way to prevent adult content from displaying in results. The following example shows what you would type if you wanted to search Google for "sex education" and not have adult sites in your search results.

Example safesearch: sex education

Generic safesearch:

Special Searches with Google

You can easily find the definition of words, movie information and showtimes, phone numbers, and even your local weather using Google.

Generic define: phonebook: bphonebook: rphonebook: movie: weather

Examples define:words phonebook: New Orleans, LA bphonebook: New Orleans, LA rphonebook: New Orleans, LA movie: Superman Returns weather New Orleans, LA

For the phonebook information, "bphonebook" searches business numbers only while "rphonebook" searches residential numbers only.

Site Specific Searches with Google

Google provides users with ways to search only within one website and to find all pages linked to a specific webpage.

To search within a website:

Generic site:

Example contact information site:www.jeremyknight.me

To find all linked pages:

Generic link:

Example link:www.jeremyknight.me

If you would like to learn more about Google's "hidden" features, please visit: Google Advanced Operators (Cheat Sheet)