Google dropping local search URLs, but does it change anything?

If you’re used to heading to google.co.uk to kickstart your search experience, you might soon notice your browser redirecting to Google.com.

But don’t worry, you aren’t going to lose your local search results in favour of a globalised Google search when you go browsing on the best smartphones.

In a blog post, Google explains why the country code top-level domain names such as google.co.uk for the UK can finally go by the wayside.

“Over the years, our ability to provide a local experience has improved. In 2017, we began providing the same experience with local results for everyone using Search, whether they were using google.com or their country’s ccTLD,” the company wrote.

“Because of this improvement, country-level domains are no longer necessary. So we’ll begin redirecting traffic from these ccTLDs to google.com to streamline people’s experience on Search. This change will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, and you may be prompted to re-enter some of your Search preferences in the process.”

So, aside from the quirk of having to re establish some of your search preferences, Google reckons you won’t notice a different at all. In fact, these URLs haven’t been needed for eight years.

“It’s important to note that while this update will change what people see in their browser address bar, it won’t affect the way Search works, nor will it change how we handle obligations under national laws,” Google concluded.

Opinion

Nothing to see here, it turns out. However, when you see headlines suggesting Google is getting rid of local search URLs, it deserves clarification.

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