Google Search Console

Share This
« Back to Glossary Index

Google Search[1] Console, a valuable tool offered by Google[3], functions as a comprehensive health assessment for your website. It presents a range of features designed to track your site’s performance and rectify any potential issues. It allows you to submit a sitemap for Google to crawl and index, view statistics pertaining to Googlebot’s access to your site, and receive alerts about indexing, spam, or other website issues. The console also displays which websites are linking to yours and aids in managing your robots.txt files. Moreover, it connects to other helpful tools like Bing Webmaster Tools, Google Insights for Search, Google Analytics[2], Schema.org, and Google Tag Manager. The console also furnishes learning references and external links to pertinent resources such as guides for enhancing SEO and the official Google Webmaster Central Blog[4].

Terms definitions
1. Google Search ( Google Search ) Google Search, a potent online search engine, is a creation of Google. It employs intricate algorithms and indexing systems to sift through vast amounts of web data, delivering users relevant page links, including cached versions of currently inaccessible sites. Google Search accommodates various file formats like Word documents and PDFs. The platform comes with features such as SafeSearch, a tool that screens explicit content, and offers an in-depth evaluation of a site's relevance via its unique PageRank system. Google Search also prides itself on a user-friendly interface, complete with elements like rich snippets, the Knowledge Graph, and the Personal Tab, all aimed at improving the user's search journey. Moreover, it has expanded to provide image, news, and video search functionalities, and even voice search on the Chrome browser. Beyond web page searches, Google operates a range of tools and services, delivering a thorough, customized internet search experience.
2. Google Analytics ( Google Analytics ) Google Analytics, a potent web analytics tool by Google, equips website owners with the capability to monitor and scrutinize their internet traffic. Essential data including session length, bounce rate, and the number of pages viewed per session are provided. The tool also seamlessly integrates with Google Ads for efficient campaign tracking and delivers e-commerce reporting. Google Analytics functions through a JavaScript-based tracking code and employs page tags for data gathering. It has progressed through several versions, with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) being the most recent. GA4 introduces innovative features like predictive metrics and heightened customizability. It's also compatible with mobile applications, offering SDKs for both iOS and Android. Despite minor privacy concerns and possible performance issues, Google Analytics remains the leading web analytics service, favored by a significant number of top-rated websites. Google offers extensive support and training resources for users, establishing it as a preferred tool for web analytics.

Google Search Console (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is a web service by Google which allows webmasters to check indexing status, search queries, crawling errors and optimize visibility of their websites.

Google Search Console
Type of site
Webmaster tools
OwnerGoogle
URLsearch.google.com/search-console
Commercialyes
Launched2006; 18 years ago (2006)

Until 20 May 2015, the service was called Google Webmaster Tools. In January 2018, Google introduced a new version of the search console, with changes to the user interface. In September 2019, old Search Console reports, including the home and dashboard pages, were removed.

« Back to Glossary Index
Keep up with updates
en_USEnglish