What is Google?
Google is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products. Its best known offerings include a search engine, online advertising technologies, cloud computing and software. Google is one of the Big Four technology companies in the United States along with Apple, Amazon and Microsoft.
Google’s search engine is used by billions of people worldwide. The algorithm behind it aims to deliver the most relevant results based on what a user is searching for. It also takes into account the searcher’s history, location and other factors to provide them with the most accurate results.
In addition to the standard text-based search, Google offers several other services such as maps, email, cloud storage, online shopping and video chat through Hangouts. Users can customize the search experience by using symbols to include, exclude or specify results and by utilizing a range of other options such as weather forecasts, currency, unit and time conversions and word definitions. Google’s search algorithm also focuses on providing image and video search as well as links to news, blogs and other sites related to their query.
Other Google services include a free Web browser called Chrome that is available for Windows, Apple macOS and Linux desktop computers and mobile devices running the Android operating system. Google also provides cloud storage for files and photos as well as an online music streaming service. Google Drive offers file storage and backup for a monthly fee while Google Music is a premium offering that allows unlimited streaming of songs for a subscription fee. Google also has a suite of business applications such as Google Sheets, Calendar and Google Docs.
On occasion, the Google homepage features a special logo design known as a Google Doodle. These designs can be pictures, drawings, animations or interactive games and are typically produced to commemorate special events like the Burning Man Festival, notable people such as Albert Einstein and holidays such as Valentine’s Day. Clicking on a Google Doodle links to a string of search results that relate to the event or holiday being celebrated.
The company’s unusual beginnings can be traced back to a garage in Menlo Park where Brin and Page began receiving outside investment. They founded the company with $100,000 from Sun cofounder Andy Bechtolsheim and adopted the motto “Don’t be evil” to embody their unconventional, yet successful, business approach. The motto became the company’s code of conduct when Google restructured into Alphabet Inc. in 2015 with Page becoming CEO.
In addition to Google, Alphabet’s subsidiary businesses include health firm Calico, tech industry private equity firm CapitalG, robotics firm Intrinsic and “moonshot” technology developer X Development. Google remains its most prominent subsidiary and will continue to serve as the lead umbrella company for Alphabet’s Internet interests. Its executive leadership includes Chairman Eric Schmidt and Chief Product Officer Sundar Pichai. The company currently employs about 80,000 workers around the world. Its research and development centers are located in Mountain View, California, United States, Kirkland, Washington, and Beijing, China.
