diff --git a/src/content/archives/what-is-google.md b/src/content/archives/what-is-google.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7f3bae --- /dev/null +++ b/src/content/archives/what-is-google.md @@ -0,0 +1,81 @@ +## What is Google? +Google allows us smooth brained chumps to keep our jobs while looking like we know what we're doing. + +"What!?!?" I hear you say. That's right. Google can almost always give you the answers you're looking for and in this spotlight we'll show you how! + +"No! It cannot be! Surely such a tool cannot exist!" Yes, yes it can. And don't call me Shirley. :pray: + +## How do I use google? + +It's easy! Unbelievably easy. Alright, let's imagine you have a question, say "How do I create an array in java?". + +Step 1. open + +Step 2. Take your question, and put it into the big search box. + +Step 3. Click search. + +Yup, google is just that good it can understand your question and give you relevant answers. + +That's all folks. + +🦗 + +**But... I want to *really* know how to use google!** + +Alright alright. Pull your chair up close and I'll tell you the secrets big search don't want you to know! You didn't hear it from me though! + +## Toby's top tips for refining your queries: + +One of the most important things to know is that google uses various keyword and punctuation combinations as filter operators. Let's take a look at what they are, and how they affect your search results. + +### 1. The colon +`site:` - Imagine you're looking for that one specific stack overflow post. You remember seeing it way back when you were just a wee little programming child typing on your keyboard with your index fingers only. We can use `site:` to filter our results to a specific website. + +Example: `site:stackoverflow.com html regex` - One of the top results here should be an infamous SO post on parsing HTML with regex. If you haven't read it take a look! + +`imagesize:` - Looking for that perfect desktop background or that perfectly sized stock photo of a well dressed individual posing at a computer to make your business seem more legitimate? use this to filter results to a specific image size + +Example: `imagesize:1920x1080 dogs` - enjoy the cute dogs + +`cache:` - If for some reason a website you want to visit is down, you might be able to view the content from google's cache. + +Example: `cache:https://stackoverflow.com/questions` - Now you need not panic when stackoverflow goes down and you need to centre that div with css! + +`filetype:` - If you're looking for a specific filetype, this is what you need! + +Example: `filetype:pdf On Computable Numbers` - PDF results for one of Alan Turing's papers. + +### 2. The dash +`-` this little guy is a tricksy fellow. The echos of enraged Java programmers shattered through the lands as they searched `-xmx` and were given no results. As it turns out, using a dash will **exclude** the following word from the results + +Example: `-xmx` - will give you no results. + +### 3. Quotes +`"` - When you make a search on google, if you put a word or phrase in quotes, google will look for an exact match. Useful if you're looking for a very specific error. + +Example: `"Fly, you fools"` + +### 4. Range .. + +`..` - Do you remember reading an article or an event happening but can't recall the exact date? Want to search for a new phone within a price range? Putting two dots between two numbers will filter results. + +Example: `rgb mechanical keyboard $50..$150` + +## Google Scholar + +If you're looking for research papers for school/college/uni/fun then Google Scholar can be your best friend. Google scholar exclusively searches academic & scholarly work. These are the kind of results you'll be wanting to cite in your own essays/papers. The same kind of filters work here too! + + + +## Advanced Search +Still stuck trying to find what you want? Try Google's Advanced Search page +This page is a slightly more UX friendly version of all the above filters and more! +Image advanced search: +Book advanced search: +Video advanced search: +Scholar advanced search: + +## Here is a handy cheatsheet! + +https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/825348974164049920/829494747910504498/google-online-research-cheat-sheet.png \ No newline at end of file