What is a Search Query?

A search query refers to the words or phrases that a user enters into a search engine when looking for information, products, services, or answers to their questions. It is the user’s request for specific information, which the search engine then uses to retrieve relevant results from its index.

Example

Suppose a user plans a vacation to Italy and wants to find information about popular tourist destinations in Rome. Their search query might be “best attractions in Rome, Italy.”

In this example:

  • “Best attractions” specifies the type of information the user wants (top tourist spots).
  • “In Rome” indicates the location (city) the user is interested in.
  • “Italy” provides additional context, specifying the country.

When the user enters this search query into a search engine like Google, the search engine processes the query and retrieves relevant search results, including websites, articles, travel guides, and reviews related to the best attractions in Rome, Italy.

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