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"Related" Search Operator Is Removed from Google

Published at Aug 16, 2023

Last updated at Sep 22, 2023 By Tati Khumairoh

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"Related" Search Operator Is Removed from Google

Google Search Operator is a special command or symbol that can be used in search queries to refine and customize search results. This operator enables users to perform more targeted and efficient searches, thus helping them find the needed information quickly and accurately. However, Google has decided to remove the "related" operator due to certain reasons.

Search operators are a collection of search queries that can be used to assist in searching. Among them is "related," which has just been removed from Google. Initially, this operator was used to find results relevant to the website input by the user. For more details, read here!

Key Takeaways

The "related" search operator has been removed by Google, but it is still functional for now.
"Related" is used to find websites similar to the one input by the user.
The removal is attributed to its perceived inefficiency and limited user usage.

Google search operators are special characters or character sequences used in Google search queries to filter displayed results. There are various search operators, each with its own function. Some of the most common ones include:

site: This operator enables users to search for results from a specific website. For instance, to find all pages on Wikipedia that mention the word "computer," users can use the search query "computer site:wikipedia.org."
imagesize: An operator used to locate pages containing images of specific predetermined sizes. This operator is applicable only to Google Images.
filetype: Used to find specific file types in search results, such as pdf, rtf, and more.

Figure 1: Example of using the site: search operator

Removal of the "Related" Search Operator

Recently, Google updated its guide on search operators and removed the "related" operator from the list of available operators. The "related" operator was previously used to find similar pages.

The "related:" operator functioned by analyzing backlinks pointing to the user-specified URL. It used this data to identify websites with similarities in popularity and content to the searched URL.

Unfortunately, this operator has been removed from Google's official guide page. In a tweeted announcement, Google stated that the operator was removed because it was no longer functioning and was rarely used.

Figure 2: Tweet from Google Search Liaison regarding the removal of the "related" operator

Some user replies to the tweet also indicated that the operator had not been functioning properly before, leading to its disuse. This explains the removal of the operator.

Based on our testing, this search operator can still be used at present. However, it appears that it can only be used to find similar websites that are popular, such as Google or other major websites.

Figure 3: Search using the "related" operator

Regrettably, for searching specific websites like cmlabs, this operator is unable to provide similar results.

Figure 4: Search using the "related" operator on the cmlabs.co website

In the same tweet, Google mentioned that they will explore other ways to achieve similar information as provided by the "related" operator in the future. Thus, it is possible that this operator will be replaced by more advanced alternatives down the line.

Article Source
As a dedicated news provider, we are committed to accuracy and reliability. We go the extra mile by attaching credible sources to support the data and information we present.
Developers Google: “Overview of Google Search Operators” https://developers.google.com/search/docs/monitor-debug/search-operators
Tweet Google Search Liaison: https://twitter.com/searchliaison/status/1681678160491077632

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Tati Khumairoh

An experienced content writer who is eager in creating engaging and impactful written pieces across various industries. Using SEO approach to deliver high-quality content that captivates readers.