TIPS: Retro-image Search

It's easy to take the common Google search for granted. But if you take just a moment to really think about it, you might appreciate it for what it truly is: crazy superhero magic!

Just by typing a few words, a single person can achieve near-instantaneous access to all of the world's collected information. Want to know the capital of Moldova? (It's Chisinau.) Who played the mean judge in Ghostbusters II? (Character actor Harris Yulin.) How long does it take Neptune to orbit the Sun? (164.79 Earth years!) Bam, boom, POW!

As long as you have a connected device, you have the power to know just about everything—that's some Professor X stuff right there.

There are, of course, other capable search engines out there; some tailored to serve very niche audiences. But aside from fictional characters on the CW, is anyone out there really "Binging" anything?

While Google has grown to include numerous other pursuits, search remains the company's core product (and its most profitable, as well). With a decade-and-a-half of refinement behind it, Google search has evolved into a complex and beautifully versatile technology. (And one that alwaysworks. Have you seen Google.com go down? That's no easy accomplishment for the world's most popular website.)

While you probably use it just about every day, there may still be a lot you don't know about the old dependable Google search.

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Retro-image Search

Google supports "backwards" image searches on most browsers. This function allows you to upload an image file and find information on that image. For example if you uploaded a picture of the Eiffel Tower, Google (probably) has the ability to recognize it and give you information on the Eiffel Tower. Pretty cool. (And it works with faces, too).

In addition, a backwards search can direct you to websites where the particular image appears, or even show you images that are "visually similar."

Just go to Google image search and click the little camera icon in the search bar. Here, you can upload an image (or enter an image's URL) that you'd like to search.

Updated versions of the Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers will allow you to drag an image file directly into the search bar, however Internet Explorer does not appear to currently support this drag-and-drop functionality.