Answered by
Oliver Hall
Google's indexing methods have evolved significantly since the company's inception in 1998, primarily aiming to improve the relevancy and speed of search results. Here's an overview of the key developments:
Initially, Google's indexing was fairly basic. The algorithm, known as PageRank, relied heavily on the number and quality of links pointing to a page to determine its relevance and ranking.
In the mid-2000s, Google began rolling out major updates that significantly impacted indexing. For example, the 'Caffeine' update in 2010 allowed Google to index content much faster and in larger quantities than before. This update was designed to improve the freshness of the search results.
With the advent of social media and real-time updates, Google started incorporating Twitter feeds and other real-time information into its indexes. This shift enabled Google to deliver timely content, especially in situations where fresh information was crucial, such as during natural disasters or live events.
As mobile searches began to surpass desktop searches globally, Google announced a significant change in their indexing strategy by transitioning to mobile-first indexing. This meant Google predominantly used the mobile version of the content for indexing and ranking, which had implications for site design and SEO strategies.
The introduction of AI and machine learning algorithms, like RankBrain, further refined Google's indexing process. RankBrain helps Google better understand the context of words within search queries, making it capable of handling never-before-seen search queries more effectively.
Google continuously updates its algorithms and indexing methods to enhance user experience and adapt to new types of content and changing user behavior. These updates often focus on improving the understanding of user intent, the relevancy of search results, and the overall efficiency of the indexing process.