Google Directory

The Google Directory was a web directory hosted by Google and is based on the open source project DMOZ. It was discontinued on July 20, 2011. However, the Google business places and recommended businesses is now commonly referred to as the Google directory.[1]

Google Directory
Type of site
Web directory
Available inWas available in about 86 languages
OwnerGoogle
URLdirectory.google.com
CommercialNo
RegistrationNo
Current statusDiscontinued

Information

The Google Directory was organized into 16 main categories. The directory with its upper level topics and sub-categories could provide more specific results than the usual keyword search.[2]

  • Arts
  • Business
  • Computers
  • Games
  • Health
  • Home
  • Kids and teens
  • News
  • Recreation
  • Reference
  • Regional
  • Science
  • Shopping
  • Society
  • Sports
  • World

The World link offered the directory in other languages. The Kids and Teens link was a separate web archive for kids and teens.

The Google Directory was based on the Open Directory Project.[3] Unlike the keyword search function of Google, the directory organization was created by humans.[2]

Structure

Main page

The main page had links to the 16 main categories,[4] along with the World and Kids and Teens links. There was a search box on top that allowed users to search the Google Directory. On top of that was the slogan in green letters: "The web organized by topic into categories." On top of that were links to other Google services.

Main category pages

Each main category page had links to sub-main category pages in alphabetical order, as well as a search box on top of it. Each sub-category entry is followed by a number that gives the number of items in that sub-category.[4] Sub-categories would be created as needed, and eventually the user would get to a page with no more subcategories. Each page might have links to related categories. Some links were redirects to other pages.

The World link had the names of languages. If the user clicked on one, they would be taken to a version of the directory in that language.[2]

Kids and Teens

As the name states, it had pages for kids and teens. It was completely disconnected from the rest of the directory, so if you clicked it by accident, you would have to press the back button on your web browser.

Connection with the Open Directory Project

The Google Directory was completely built upon the Open Directory Project. Google integrated its PageRank system and its search system into it. Everything was green. There were links on the bottom so that the user could contribute to it.

Trivia
  • If a search result was also in the directory, Google included a link to the respecting category.
  • If someone wanted to have a listing in the Google Directory, they would have to be listed in the Open Directory Project.

References
  1. Tara, Calishain; Rael, Dornfest (2003). Google Hacks. O'Reilly. p. 76. ISBN 9780596004477.
  2. Sarah, Milstein; J.D., Biersdorfer; Rael, Dornfest (10 March 2006). Google: The Missing Manual: The Missing Manual. O'Reilly Media. ISBN 9781491909782. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. Michael, Busby (October 2003). Learn Google. Wordware Pub. pp. 99 and 99. ISBN 9781556220388. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. Ted, Coombs (2008). Google Power Tools Bible. Wiley. p. 113. ISBN 9780470377444. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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