Google explains why it’s hiding the results count in search

Why has Google hidden the results count?

Google has recently chosen to make the results count less visible in search queries.

Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, explained that this decision stems from the intention to avoid distractions for users. According to Sullivan, the results count mainly interests researchers and does not necessarily reflect the interest or popularity of search terms.

Google Trends as an alternative

Sullivan highlighted that the results count provided by Google is often a broad estimate and may not be ideal for in-depth analyses. He recommended using Google Trends, a more robust and reliable platform for those who want to analyze data on interests and trends. It is accessible at trends.google.com.

Google’s experiments with results count

Recently, Google has been experimenting with completely removing the results count, not just hiding it under the “Tools” menu. However, the feature is still available, albeit less prominently.

The “site:” command remains

Another important confirmation concerns the site: command, which allows users to search within a specific domain. Despite its flaws, Google stated its commitment to keeping and improving this feature, as it had announced back in 2017.

How to find the results count

If you need to view the results count, you can still find it by selecting the “Tools” option after performing a Google search.