14 tips to Google like a pro
Tags: webdev, beginners, productivity, career
Published: 2021-10-23 09:00:10

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9350nmpkofqgrqikpqx5.png)

Google is one of the most powerful tools, and believe it or not, Googling is one of the most important skills out there. Here are some handy tips to master it.

### Tip #1: Search for an exact word or phrase
Use `quotes` to search for an exact word or phrase.
```js
"what is kubernetes"
```
![Screen Shot 2021-10-23 at 4.39.30 pm.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634967599216/E0irWd1ar.png)

### Tip #2: Excluding a word
The minus sign allows you to specify words that shouldn’t appear in your results. Use `-` to exclude words.
```js
hover over an element -css
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 12.02.05 pm.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634864533073/5UTRGZNFT.png)

### Tip #3: Site search
The site: operator allows you to perform a search within the specified site. 
```js
site:geeksforgeeks.org merge sort
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-23 at 12.06.34 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634908006159/UntPc3sumn.png)
**Keep a Domain Out of Search:**

Tired of seeing Wikipedia articles on your search results? 
Use `-site:wikipedia.org` before your search term to remove results from that site.

### Tip #4: Asterisk(*)
The asterisk is a wildcard that can match any word. Use `*` for missing words or phrases.
```js
build a todo app with *
``` 

### Tip #5: File type
The `filetype:` operator allows you to search for files specific to a type. 
Some available types: `pdf, ppt, doc, xls`
```js
filetype:pdf how to learn react
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 11.58.09 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634864295404/JQbC76Tml.png)

### Tip #6: Word definitions
Use the following search trick to find an inline definition:
```js
define:machine learning
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 11.50.32 pm.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634907038686/mJMMkxlpf.png)

### Tip #7: Use `~` to search for a word and all its synonyms
```js
How to increase font-size of paragraph ~tag
``` 

### Tip #8: Use `OR` to perform multiple searches
```js
how to code in C# OR how to program in C#
``` 

### Tip #9: Related
Use `related` to finding sites that are similar to the specified site.
```js
related: udemy.com
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 11.54.39 pm.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634907286761/RwDNG0nsA.png)
**Search for a cached website:**
```
cache:epictutorials.com
``` 

### Tip #10: Number range
Use `...` to search within a range of numbers
```js
Updated css course 2020...2021
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-23 at 12.05.01 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634907907846/n_ad-uiXp.png)

### Tip #11: Time range 

```js
javascript after:2021
``` 
```js
javascript before:2019
``` 

### Tip #12: `+`
Using `+` will return pages that contain both words
```js
JavaScript Oops+React
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-23 at 12.12.12 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634908341520/YVXGLXH9-.png)

### Tip #13: AND
Use to get results that must contain some given words.
```js
React AND CSS
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-23 at 12.13.24 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634908411342/U0Hcb0a39.png)

### Tip #14: All words In text
If you want to find a web page that includes every word of your search query, you can put `allintext:` followed by the words and/or phrases you want to search.
```js
allintext: CSS fundamentals like the box model, cascade and specificity
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-23 at 12.14.49 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634908496270/YYV5r9nmD.png)

## Bonus tips

#### Translations
You can use Google search to translate words and phrases from one language to another.
```js
translate perfect to Italian
``` 

#### Timer
You can pull up a timer within Google by typing an amount of time followed by the word timer.
```js
5 min timer
``` 
![Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 11.33.39 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634862824554/5qd2W3sY3.png)

#### Stopwatch
You can also pull up a stopwatch within Google simply by typing stopwatch.
![Screen Shot 2021-10-22 at 11.31.48 am.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1634862715545/IakPCmBSO.png) 

## Further reference:

[Google Search Operators: The Complete List (42 Advanced Operators)](https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-advanced-search-operators/)

[Use Google like a pro](https://markodenic.com/use-google-like-a-pro/)

[Google's Advanced search](https://www.google.com/advanced_search)

---------------------

Thanks for reading, hope you all enjoyed this post. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks 🥳 

Stay safe and stay happy!

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