Question:

How does Google generate search suggestions for websites that I have not visited before?

I am curious about the mechanism behind Google’s search suggestions feature. When I enter a website address, such as “twitter.com/”, followed by a letter, I see a list of suggestions that include websites that I have never visited or searched for before. These suggestions have a grey earth logo next to them, while the ones that I have visited have a blue twitter icon. Why does Google show me these suggestions? Do they come from the previous owner of the computer that I am using? Does creating a new windows account or a new Google account affect the suggestions that I see? I would appreciate any explanation on this topic.

Answer:

Google’s search suggestions, also known as autocomplete, are a feature that helps users complete their searches faster and easier. When you start typing a query in the search box, Google shows you a list of predictions that match what you are entering. These predictions are based on real searches that have been done on Google, as well as other factors such as your location, language, and previous searches .

One of the types of predictions that Google shows you is website addresses, or URLs. For example, if you type “twitter.com/” followed by a letter, you will see a list of suggestions that include different Twitter accounts or pages. Some of these suggestions may have a blue Twitter icon next to them, while others may have a grey earth logo. What do these icons mean?

The blue Twitter icon means that you have visited that website before, or that it is in your bookmarks or history. The grey earth logo means that you have not visited that website before, or that it is not in your bookmarks or history. Google shows you these icons to help you distinguish between the websites that you are familiar with and the ones that you are not.

Why does Google show you websites that you have not visited before? These are websites that are popular or trending among other users who have searched for similar queries. Google tries to provide you with a variety of relevant and useful suggestions that can help you find what you are looking for. However, these suggestions are not endorsements or recommendations by Google. They are simply predictions of what you might be interested in based on your query and other factors .

Do these suggestions come from the previous owner of the computer that you are using? No, they do not. Google does not use any information from the previous owner of the computer to generate search suggestions for you. The suggestions are based on your own Google account, if you are signed in, or on your browser settings, if you are not signed in. Creating a new windows account or a new Google account will affect the suggestions that you see, as they will be tailored to your preferences and activity .

If you want to disable or customize the search suggestions feature, you can do so by changing your Google settings or your browser settings. You can also delete or pause your search history, which will affect the suggestions that you see .

Google’s search suggestions are a convenient and helpful feature that can save you time and effort when searching online. However, they are not always perfect or accurate, and they may sometimes show predictions that are inappropriate, irrelevant, or misleading. Therefore, it is important to use your own judgment and discretion when using this feature, and to always verify the information that you find on the websites that you visit.