"Something different" links : Features - Web Search Help

Features: "Something different" links

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In the left-hand panel of a search results page, a set of links in the "Something different" section shows some queries that may be in the same category as your original search. These alternative queries can help you discover webpages that are indirectly related to your search.

For example, if you search for [ noodles ], you might see tofu, vermicelli, and dumplings listed in the "Something different" section. This feature allows you to explore other concepts that you might find interesting.

How does Google determine what links to show?

"Something different" relies on web documents and users' search queries to identify concepts that that may be related or are in the same category. Among other factors, our algorithms look at the terms that users search for during the same session, since they are more likely to be related. We also consider whether the terms appear in similar contexts on websites, such as in the same table. For example, if you search for [ soccer ], we might notice that web documents and users' search queries often connect soccer to other sports like tennis and basketball. These searches are algorithmically determined based on a number of purely objective factors without human intervention.

Why do I sometimes see queries that are seemingly unrelated or offensive?

The search queries you see in the "Something different" section are a reflection of web documents and user search activity. Just like the web, the search queries presented may include silly, strange, and surprising terms and phrases. In some cases, there may be links to concepts that seem surprising to you, but after doing some searching on the web, you may discover that they actually are connected to your original search in some way.

While we always strive to neutrally and objectively reflect the diversity of content on the web (some good, some objectionable), we also apply a narrow set of removal policies for pornography, violence and hate speech.

How are the queries in "Something different" different than the "Related searches" listed at the bottom of the page?

"Something different" helps you discover concepts that may be related or in the same category as your original search, such as different sports, foods, or places. "Related searches" generally help you drill-down into a specific subject. For example, if you search for [ giraffe ], "Something different" may list other animals like zebras and elephants, while "Related searches" might delve deeper into your original search with things like giraffe pictures, giraffe facts, and safari animals.

Why don't I see a query that is obviously similar to my search?

For some searches, you might not see the "Something different" section. We only show alternative queries in the "Something different" section when our neutral algorithms determine they may be relevant to your search. Sometimes our algorithms do not find other search queries that relate closely enough to the concept of your search. This tends to happen more often for long, complicated searches.

Where can I report offensive queries in the "Something different" feature?

If you have feedback or questions, you can post them in the Google Web Search Help Forum .

via google.com

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