Google

Google is the world's most widely used search engine and one of the largest technology companies. While best known for web search, Google offers a wide range of Internet services and software used by billions of people worldwide. The company is now a subsidiary of Alphabet, but most of Alphabet's offerings are still under the Google name.

Some of Google's most widely used products and services include:

• Google Search - web search, now with AI Overviews and an "AI Mode" option
• Gmail - Web-based email service
• Google Maps - maps, navigation, and local business information
• YouTube - online video platform owned by Google
• Google Ads - advertising platform for businesses
• Google Cloud - cloud computing services for organizations and developers
• Google Drive - cloud storage and file sharing
• Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides - Web-based productivity apps
• Google Photos - photo backup and organization
• Google Chrome - Web browser
• Android - mobile operating system used in smartphones and many other devices

History

Google began in 1996 as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Ph.D. students at Stanford University. They developed a search algorithm that ranked web pages based not only on keywords, but also on how many other pages linked to them. This method, later called PageRank, identified more relevant and authoritative results than earlier search engines and helped Google become the leading search service on the Web.

Google officially launched as a company in 1998 and expanded rapidly during the early growth of the Internet. In 2015, Google became the primary subsidiary of Alphabet, a parent company created to oversee Google and several related businesses.

Google Search has evolved significantly over the past few decades. In addition to indexing billions of webpages, it now uses advanced machine learning and AI systems to interpret search intent, rank results, and generate summaries for user queries. Search results often begin with an AI Overview, which summarizes content from multiple webpages, often across several websites. The search results page, or "SERP," may also include featured snippets, knowledge panels, maps, shopping listings, and videos alongside traditional webpage links.

NOTE: To search the Web using Google, visit Google's home page.