Why does a Google search for the word "cat" return 463,000,000 results today, yet using the Google Search tools to create a custom range of anything indexed up to and including today returns 928,000,000 results? Shouldn't these numbers be identical?
-
These results seem to be typical of any word. "Running" returns 1,530,000,000 results when using search tools for anything indexed up to and including today, yet if you search for things indexed "any time" then you end up with 465,000,000. With other words this difference is reversed, where the search tools search retrieves a far lower number rather than a higher number. I'm trying to use search tools to map the increased popularity of a specific term over the years, but it seems that this system is unreliable. Or am I just using it incorrectly?
-
Answer:
The counts in all search engines are mostly fantasy. See: http://searchengineland.com/why-google-cant-count-results-properly-53559 for some details.
Greg Lindahl at Quora Visit the source
Other answers
The thing about those counts of documents are that they are only gross approximations. Google COULD tell you how many documents they have indexed, but not as quickly as that number pops up on the screen. You can prove this to yourself by conducting a more bounded search (one that you can actually count the results) and if it is over several pages you will see that the count does not match what they actually return. Treat those numbers as a very rough approximation.
Jack Dahlgren
Related Q & A:
- How to create a custom email template?Best solution by Salesforce
- Why isn't my website in google search results?Best solution by Webmasters
- How do I remove certain results from a Google search? Is there a way?
- Why is my google search redirecting me to other site?Best solution by Yahoo! Answers
- How do I create a custom theme?Best solution by windows.microsoft.com
Just Added Q & A:
- How many active mobile subscribers are there in China?Best solution by Quora
- How to find the right vacation?Best solution by bookit.com
- How To Make Your Own Primer?Best solution by thekrazycouponlady.com
- How do you get the domain & range?Best solution by ChaCha
- How do you open pop up blockers?Best solution by Yahoo! Answers
For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.
-
Got an issue and looking for advice?
-
Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.
-
Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.
Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.