Google’s Web interface is unmistakable. Its “look and feel” is copyright-protected,
and for good reason. It is clean and simple. What most people fail to realize is
that the interface is also extremely powerful.Throughout this book, we will see
how you can use Google to uncover truly amazing things. However, as in most
things in life, before you can run, you must learn to walk.
This chapter takes a look at the basics of Google searching.We begin by
exploring the powerful Web-based interface that has made Google a household
word. Even the most advanced Google users still rely on the Web-based interface
for the majority of their day-to-day queries. Once we understand how to navigate
and interpret the results from the various interfaces, we will explore basic
search techniques.
Understanding basic search techniques will help us build a firm foundation
on which to base more advanced queries.You will learn how to properly use the
Boolean operators (AND, NOT, and OR) as well as exploring the power and
flexibility of grouping searches.We will also learn Google’s unique implementation
of several different wildcard characters.
Finally, you will learn the syntax of Google’s URL structure. Learning the ins
and outs of the Google URL will give you access to greater speed and flexibility
when submitting a series of related Google searches.We will see that the Google
URL structure provides an excellent “shorthand” for exchanging interesting
searches with friends and colleagues.