Google has decided to remove a function that has gone unnoticed by the vast majority of users: the Sitelinks search box. This tool, launched more than ten years ago, allowed you to do an internal search directly from the Google results page, under the main link of the site concerned. Yet despite the theoretical benefits of this option, its usage has plummeted over time, prompting Google to eliminate it for good.
Google removes Sitelinks search box
In a statement published on its Google Search Central blog, the search giant announced that the removal of the Sitelinks search box will take place from November 21. “ Over the years we have noticed that the use of this visual element has decreased », Indicates the company, thus justifying its decision. This withdrawal is part of a broader approach aimed at simplifying the user experience on the platform.
The impact of this deletion should be minimal, or even imperceptible for the majority of Internet users. Google has confirmed that removing this element will not affect site rankings in search results or other Sitelinks that appear below the main results for some sites. In addition, site owners will not have to worry about possible errors related to structured data, as the latter will no longer generate alerts in Google tools like the Console.
The Sitelinks search box is a typical example of a potentially very useful but little-used feature. On paper, this option allowed users to save time by performing internal searches directly from Google results, without having to navigate to the site in question. In practice, most Internet users seemed unaware of its existence or simply preferred to visit the site to carry out their search.
Another factor in this disaffection could lie in the rise of artificial intelligence features that Google is gradually integrating into its search engine. These developments are shaking up the search experience and providing users with more direct and intuitive ways to obtain information. As AI takes hold, some more traditional tools, like this Sitelinks search box, become redundant.
For the few sites that took advantage of this tool, Google recommends making their own internal search forms more visible and accessible. This is a simple alternative to compensate for the removal of Sitelinks and continue to offer an optimal user experience to Internet users wanting to carry out precise searches within a site.
Source: www.journaldugeek.com
