In the past few years, this “search google or type a URL” topic suddenly got in trend. Everyone is searching on Google to know what’s going on (like you! 😉), but no one is getting the actual story behind it.
The story is pretty simple – “search google or type a URL” is basically an in-built feature in browsers (let’s be it Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc), that allows you to browse the internet by typing any specific keyword or by typing any specific web address.
Seems intriguing? Well, we got you! Keep reading the blog to know everything as a beginner to get the complete insight.
What Does ‘Search Google or Type a URL’ Mean?
As we mentioned, the phrase ‘Search Google or Type a URL’ is above all in your web browser in a field which is rather called Address bar or Omnibox.
This feature enables the user to perform a search query either through one given search engine, like Google, or to access any website by specifying its URL address. It’s a strong tool that combines these two functions in one, enabling smooth browsing.
Anything that you type into this field gets processed through the default search engine within the browser to return a list of appropriate search results. Alternatively, if you enter a valid URL – for example, www.example.com the browser takes you directly onto the page.
Knowing when and how to use each will greatly help you increase your browsing efficiency.
Understanding the Omnibox: Your All-in-One Tool!
When you open your Chrome Browser, on the address bar you will see a text written as a placeholder. And the text is “Search Google or Type a URL” (as shown in the image below). This bar is called the Omnibox section.
This feature gives the user options to either go ahead and search directly through Google or simply enter the URL of the web page he wants to access. In essence, it acts for both the URL bar and a search box enabling users to get several things effectively done without jumping around between browser elements.
How to Search on Google Effectively?
Searching on Google is as easy as it gets. All you need is an internet browser installed on your device that will enable you to access the internet. But if you are completely new to it, or just want to make sure you’re using it efficiently, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started-
- Step-1: Open the web browser on your device. It may be Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or whatever other browser. In the address or omnibox, type www.google.com and press Enter. You can start writing in the address bar in case Google is set as your default search engine.
- Step 2: Within the Google search bar, write the words or phrases that relate to what you are trying to find. Suppose you are searching for “dinner recipes”. You may write something like “easy dinner recipes”. If you do not know exactly what you should search for – no problem – just start to write and Google will give you suggestions.
- Step-3: As you start to type, Google gives suggestions as to what is in the algorithm based on your search. These suggestions are popular searches and could help scope or broaden your query. If one of those suggestions matches what you are looking for, you can click on it, saving you from having to invest too much time.
- Step-4: Type your search term into the box or choose one of the suggestions that start to appear. Use Enter on your keyboard or the magnifying glass icon if you are on one of the mobile devices. Google will now show you a results page, containing links to websites, images, and videos regarding your query.
- Step-5: The results page will show you a list of results with contents from different relevant resources. Read the titles and texts (meta description) to determine the most valuable resources. Sometimes the best links are the first few, but don’t be afraid to scroll down the page for other possibilities.
- Step-6: When you see what looks like a promising result click on the blue link. If it’s not what you need, go back into the search results and try another link.
How to Type a URL and Browse?
Before the era of search engines, people had no other options except using this method to browse websites. Even though still typing a URL is one of the easiest ways to access a specific website directly, sometimes it gets a little bit complex for you especially when you’re not that good at typing correctly.
So… Here is a quick guide for beginners! If you are new, you can follow the following steps-
- Step-1: Open the web browser on your device. Whether you are a Chrome user, Safari popper, Firefox fanatic (or awkward person using Internet Explorer), every browser has an area that is called the search bar or address bar known as omnibox.
- Step-2: Open your browser and tap or click inside the address bar (or omnibox). This is the area to where you will type in the web address or URL. Typically, your address bar is on the very top of your browser window.
- Step-3: Write the URL of the site you want to visit carefully. For instance, www.google.com will bring you to Google’s main page. While typing the URL, you should be extra careful about the letters and special characters.
- Step-4: Now press Enter key (or Go if you are using a smartphone or tablet) on keyboard. Now, your browser will redirect you to the website you want.
- Step-5: After the page loads, you’ll see you’re on the homepage of that particular page. From this page, you can navigate the other pages to get more relevant information you’re searching for.
- Step-6: If you want to return using a back button which is at the top of your browser ( an arrow pointing left ) just click or tap on it. It will take you to the previous position.
The Difference Between Searching on Google and Typing a URL
When you search Google or type a URL, both methods actually lead you to websites, they serve different purposes and offer unique experiences. But what’s the actual difference in between?
Let’s know about each of them with bookish (boring! I know…) definitions.
Searching Google
Searching Google means using a search engine (like Google, Bing, or Yahoo) to find websites or content based on specific keywords or phrases. The search engine then generates a list of results, ranking websites based on their relevance, quality, and other SEO factors.
Typing a URL
Typing a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) means directly entering the web address of a specific site into the browser’s address bar. This method is often used when you know exactly which website you want to visit, without needing to browse through search results.
Sounds good? If you want to get a more comprehensive idea, then this table might help. Take a look!
| Aspect | Searching Google | Typing a URL |
| Purpose | To find relevant websites or information based on keywords or topics. | To access a specific website directly. |
| Knowledge Requirement | No prior knowledge of the exact web address needed; keywords or phrases suffice. | Requires knowledge of the exact URL or domain name. |
| Speed | May take longer as you browse through search results to find the most relevant link. | Faster if you know the correct URL since it takes you directly to the site. |
| Control | Search engine decides which websites to show based on rankings and algorithms. | Full control over the website you want to access directly. |
| Accuracy | Results may vary based on SEO, ads, and search algorithms. | Direct and precise; leads to the specific website without ambiguity. |
| User Convenience | Great for exploring, discovering new sites, or when you’re unsure of the exact website. | Ideal when you know exactly where you want to go. |
| Examples | Typing “best restaurants near me” into Google. | Entering “www.example.com” directly into the browser. |
When to Use Each Method?
The answer is simple (as you can guess !). If you don’t know the URL correctly, search directly with your relevant keywords and let google find what you’re looking for. If you know, welcome! You can browse directly with your specific URL.
But you can consider the following cases to decide when you should search Google or type a URL.
Search Google if-
- The exact website address is unknown to you.
- You need to research on any particular topic to generate new ideas.
- You want to compare multiple websites or options.
Type a URL if-
- You know the exact web URL you want to visit.
- You want to avoid extra steps and bypass search engine rankings or ads.
- You need quick access to a frequently used site.
Using the Omnibox on Smartphones
If you’ve ever used a smartphone to browse the web, you’ve already come across the omnibox, even if you didn’t realize it! Like the desktop version (as we discussed above), the concept of omnibox suits here in the same way.
Here’s how it works….
When you start typing in the omnibox, your browser will automatically suggest websites you’ve visited before or offer search suggestions based on what you’ve typed. If you know the exact web address, type it in and hit “go.” But if you’re unsure, just type in a few keywords, and the omnibox will turn into a search engine, helping you find what you need in seconds.
On smartphones, the omnibox also has some neat tricks, like voice search. Just tap the microphone icon, speak your query, and the browser will do the rest!
Tips for Accurate URL Typing
Typing URLs accurately may appear quite easy, but it sometimes can be a little tricky, especially when the web address is a long one or includes special characters. You should bookmark the sites you frequently visit in order to avoid such inconvenience. But it is also a fact that this option is not handy for all cases.
Below are a few tips to make it easier and save yourself some frustration.
Use Autocomplete
Most of the new browsers have this cool thing called autocomplete. You start by typing the first few letters, and it suggests the whole URL based on your history or based on other people-those are popular websites. Just tap or click, and you are good to go!
Avoid Typos
When you are typing in the URL yourself, it is good to be precise. One or two missed characters or symbols, including even a hyphen or period, may lead to error pages or the wrong site altogether. Have a second look at what you have typed before hitting the return key, especially if the URL looks long or complex.
Watch out for Secure Websites (HTTPS)
Whenever you type a URL, make sure it begins with “https://” for those sites that are secure, especially if you will be accessing something with sensitive information. A lot of modern browsers fill this in for you automatically, but it’s still good to know.
Make Use of Domain Extensions
Most popular websites end in common extensions like “.com,” “.org,” or “.net.” This is the most common method used to find sites. If you know the name of the site, you can often just type it in-without the “www” or “https”-and your browser will fill in the rest.
Use Bookmarks for Long URLs
If you go onto a website quite frequently, and the URL is either too hard to remember or simply a pain to type, it saves you a lot of time by just bookmarking the page. All you need to do is click the star icon – or whatever your browser uses – to save it for quick access later.
Tips for Searching on Google Accurately
Google is a powerful tool, but getting the best results depends on how you search. In most cases, Google shows similar results on different devices based on the keyword you search with. But depending on the location you’re residing in, the results might vary.
So, before searching on Google, it’s valuable advice for you to keep your VPN disabled on your device (especially when you’re searching any specific location near the place you’re staying).
Whether you’re looking for specific information or just browsing, here are some simple tips to help you search more accurately on Google so that you can get exactly what you’re looking for-
Use Relevant Keywords
Your SERP (Search Engine Results Page) results will be better with the more specific search terms you use. For instance, Instead of just typing something broad like “weather,” try searching with “New York City weather today.” You can also use long-tail keywords to get the most relevant results. Such additional details help Google narrow down what exactly you’re looking for.
Use Quotation Marks for Exact Phrases
If you’re looking for a specific phrase, use the words in quotation marks. If you wanted to find results that included the exact phrase “best Italian restaurant in Chicago”, this would be the way to do it. This also helps in keeping your unwanted things away.
Use the Minus Sign (-) to Exclude Words
If you want to exclude certain results, Google does have those options to apply. Just use the minus sign! For instance, if you’re looking for information about the planet “Mercury” and you don’t want to get any car brand results, you’d type in “Mercury -car”.
Asterisk (*) for Unknown Words
If you can’t remember an exact phrase or want to find out variations of it, use an asterisk. For instance, searching with “best * movies of 2024” will show the results for different categories, such as “action” or “horror.”
Use Googles’ Built-in Tools
Google provides a variety of tools: image searching, news searching, even a calculator. Take advantage of these features to refine the search results for images, videos, breaking news.
Check Spelling Suggestions
If you’re not sure of the spelling of a word, don’t sweat it-too often Google’s autocorrect fills in the appropriate word. Also, be extra careful while you type. Because your type keywords help Google to determine the intent behind the search and suggest the most relevant outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Even though you’ve at least gone through the entire blog, we know you have some questions in the back of your mind related to the topic “search google or type a URL.” No worries! Here we want to answer some of these questions to eliminate your confusion-
1. What is the omnibox in a browser?
The omnibox basically refers the bar at the top of your browser where you are allowed to type in the URL or website address, or a search query. It is both a search box and a URL bar combined so you may easily search the web or immediately head over to websites.
2. Should I type “www” or “https” before a website address?
A modern browser will fill in the “www” and “https” parts themselves. It is sufficient to just type in the name of the website itself, such as “example.com,” and you will get to the appropriate page without needing to type the full URL.
3. Why is it important to check for HTTPS in a URL?
The “HTTPS” part of the Web address informs you whether a website is using encryption to send data that you input. This is especially important when you have to put in personal information on such websites, including banking and shopping websites. Always make it a point to check the address bar for the lock symbol to ensure that you are heading toward a more secure page of that particular website.
4. How do I get the most accurate information from Google?
To get exact results, simply use specific keywords. You can also try setting exact phrases in quotation marks which will let you get access to a different (but relevant) set of results. From the extensive list, you can choose to visit any particular page that can provide you with more valuable content.
5. How can I save time when typing long URLs?
You can use autocomplete of your browser: it will suggest URLs based on your browsing history. Bookmark frequently visited websites so that you don’t have to type in the whole URL every time.
Final Verdict
Now, the ultimate question is – Which one is good for browsing the internet? Searching on Google? Or typing the URL directly and hitting the enter button? The answer is Both! There is no good or bad in this regard.
But if you want to access your desired website directly on Google, make sure your keyword is correctly typed. Otherwise, Google might show other set of results against the keyword that you mistakenly typed.
Hence, the final verdict is that considering your internet browsing convenience, you’re free to choose your desired one.
So, what is your preferred method? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
