Google is well known for its search engine, which helps users find what they’re searching for on the Internet. But Google’s decision to remove cache: what does the search operator mean for users and SEO professionals?
The cache: search operator provided a snapshot of a webpage as it was last indexed. This article will cover the impact of its removal and other recent updates to Google Search.
Table of Content
What is Google Cache?
Google cache is a snapshot or copy of a web page that Google stores while crawling and indexing it. It is a temporary copy of a web page saved on Google’s servers that captures a website’s content at a particular point in time.
Although users are unable to access cached pages directly, they are a useful tool for SEO specialists to determine when a website was crawled.
A website’s cached page can be viewed using a variety of tools, like SE Ranking’s Cache Checker, which shows the analyzed version of the site as seen by Googlebot. In addition, Google Liaison Danny Sullivan recently said that Google will most likely include links to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine in the “About this result” panel, giving users another option to see a cached version of a website.
Why Did Google Remove the Cache: Operator?
For SEO experts, the cache search operator was a easy and quick way to check the last crawl date and the additional information related to metadata. The removal of this tool will force users to depend more on tools like Search Console that provide more detailed data and need more technical skills to use effectively.
Google hasn’t explained why it removed the cache search operator from its documentation, but it could indicate that the feature is being discontinued. It could also be a way to make its search tools simpler by removing features that aren’t needed.
Another reason might be that the Internet has developed, so most web pages load consistently now. As a result, Google has decided that the cache search operator is no longer needed. That’s why the company has added links to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine in its “About this result” feature. This alternative is more user-friendly and offers a similar experience to the cache search operator.
What is the Impact of the Cache: Operator on SEO?
The cache search operator is a tool that allows users to view Google’s archived version of a web page. This feature was popular amongst SEO professionals as a way to troubleshoot crawling and indexing issues. However, as technology has improved and websites have become more reliable, the cache operator may no longer serve a practical purpose.
It is unclear why Google chose to remove the cache search operator from its official documentation, but it may be an indication that they plan to deprecate it entirely. For SEO practitioners, this change could significantly impact their ability to diagnose crawling and indexing issues.
Although the cache search operator is no longer available, SEOs can still access archived versions of web pages using the Wayback Machine links in Google’s ‘About this result’ feature. As search engine functionality changes, it is important for SEO practitioners to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and tools. By remaining agile and embracing new functionalities, SEOs can ensure their clients’ websites continue to rank well in search results.
References :
- Search Engine Journal – Google Removes Cache: Search Operator Documentation
- Search Engine Land – Google Search completely kills the cache feature
