By F5 Magazine
Google users were left heartbroken when the tech giant announced the closure of a beloved search button. The tool, which was one of Google’s oldest features, met its unfortunate end much to the dismay of loyal users. The decision has left many feeling sad and disappointed.
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The removal of links to page caches from Google search results triggered a wave of upset among users. One user even expressed their frustration, saying, “this truly sucks.” Danny Sullivan, Google’s search liaison, confirmed the news on X (formerly known as Twitter) when asked about the cache feature. Sullivan expressed his sadness about the decision, considering it was one of the oldest features of Google. The cache feature provided users with a view of a website as Google saw it, offering valuable information.
In addition to assisting with webpage loading issues, the cache feature was widely used by SEO professionals, journalists, and reporters. It allowed them to debug their websites, keep an eye on competitors, and investigate stories by viewing a company’s website changes. Moreover, Google’s cache function served as a great alternative to a VPN.
The news of Google’s cache button removal received a string of disappointed responses from users. Many expressed their disappointment, particularly SEO professionals who found the tool useful for their work. Journalists lamented the loss of this valuable resource for finding old information and researching inactive websites. The removal of the cache link also raised concerns about the potential concealment of bad activity or mistakes.
Accessing cached webpages was previously possible in different ways. There was a “Cached” button in the “About this result” panel, accessible via the three-button drop-down menu next to the search result bar. Alternatively, users could insert “cache:” before the URL in the search bar to instantly view the cached version.
Although the official confirmation of the cache links’ removal came recently, rumors of their demise had been circulating for some time. Additionally, in 2021, Google developer relations engineer Martin Splitt referred to the cached viewer page as a “basically unmaintained legacy feature.”
The decision to retire the cache feature marks the end of an era for Google and leaves users searching for alternatives to retrace webpages. Journalists, researchers, and others interested in information from inactive websites may find alternatives, but they may not be as comprehensive as Google’s cache.
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