Advanced Google Search Operators Explained

Tap an operator to see how to use it.

"Exact Phrase"

Wrapping words or a sentence in quotation marks returns only results that contain that exact wording.

-excludedword

Putting a minus sign in front of a word excludes results that contain that word from your search.

* (Wildcard)

Placing an asterisk where you can't remember a word lets you search with any word filling that spot.

Find What You Need Much More Precisely

The same search term can return far more precise, narrowed-down results when you use operators. Operators like site: and filetype: save significant time, especially when researching or hunting for a specific file.

Combine Operators for Even Sharper Results

These operators can be combined β€” for example, searching an exact phrase within a specific site using both quotation marks and site: together β€” to narrow results even further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these operators work the same on other search engines?

Most search engines support similar operators, but the exact syntax and support can vary somewhat, so it's best to check that search engine's official help documentation for accuracy.

Can I put a space between an operator and its value?

No β€” operators like site: and filetype: only work correctly when the value is typed immediately after the colon, with no space.