Google has removed their documentation for the cache: search operator as it is no longer functional. The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine shows the documentation was available until September 17, 2024. The link now redirects to a changelog notice explaining its removal.
It was revealed in March 2024 by Google SearchLiaison on X that the cache: search operator had been discontinued.
He commented on the elimination of the cache: search operator:
“Hey, catching up. Yes, it’s been removed. I know, it’s sad. I’m sad too. It’s one of our oldest features. But it was meant for helping people access pages when way back, you often couldn’t depend on a page loading. These days, things have greatly improved. So, it was decided to retire it.
Personally, I hope that maybe we’ll add links to the Internet Archive from where we had the cache link before, within About This Result. It’s such an amazing resource. For the information literacy goal of About The Result, I think it would also be a nice fit — allowing people to easily see how a page changed over time. No promises. We have to talk to them, see how it all might go — involves people well beyond me. But I think it would be nice all around.”
Indeed, links to the Internet Archive have been incorporated, as was announced on September 11, 2024.
A Google spokesperson remarked at the time:
“We know that many people, including those in the research community, value being able to see previous versions of webpages when available. That’s why we’ve added links to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to our ‘About this page’ feature.”
In Google’s documentation changelog:
“Removing the cache: search operator documentation
What: Removed the cache: search operator documentation.Why: The cache: search operator no longer works in Google Search.”
The removal of the documentation highlights that Google Search is continuously evolving, which is a critical consideration for anyone involved in publishing and SEO.
See also: Wayback Machine: 5 Alternatives To Try
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