Google searches typically don't require the protocol (http or https)

[megri]

You're absolutely right! Google searches typically don't require the protocol (http:// or https://) in the search query itself.

Here's a breakdown:

• No protocol needed: For most searches, you simply enter the keywords or phrases you want to find. Google automatically ***umes https:// and searches the secure versions of websites.
• Exceptions: There are a few situations where you might want to specify the protocol:
  • Search within a specific website: If you want to search only the http:// version of a website (not recommended for security reasons), you can use the site: operator along with -inurl:https after the website address. For example, site:example.com -inurl:https will search only http:// pages on example.com.
• Google discourages http: It's important to note that Google prioritizes secure connections (https://) and discourages using http://. Many websites may not even have an http version accessible anymore.

Here are some alternatives to specifying the protocol:

• Use the full URL: If you know the exact URL with http://, you can enter it directly in the search bar. However, keep in mind that http:// connections are not secure and could be vulnerable to eavesdropping.
• Search for specific content: If you're looking for content that might be on an http:// site, try refining your search terms to be more specific about the content itself.

[megri]

Google definitely prefers websites that use HTTPS over those that don't. Here's why:

• Security: HTTPS encrypts communication between your browser and the website, making it much harder for hackers to steal information. Google prioritizes user safety and wants to ensure users are on secure connections.
• Ranking Signal: Since 2014, Google has used HTTPS as a minor ranking factor in search results. While not the biggest factor, it can give websites with HTTPS a slight edge.
• User Experience: Chrome and other browsers now display a warning for non-HTTPS websites. This can make users feel less secure and less likely to trust the site.

However, for specific search queries like site:example.com, Google will still crawl and potentially index both HTTP and HTTPS versions of the website, depending on its configuration.

Here's a breakdown:

• General Search: Google prefers HTTPS and may give it a slight ranking boost.
• site: Search: Google will potentially index both versions if they exist.

Recommendation:

It's strongly recommended to use HTTPS for all websites. It improves security, user experience, and can give you a small SEO advantage. There are free and easy ways to implement HTTPS on most websites.

[megri]

The best way for site search is definitely site:https://example.com. Here's why:

• Accuracy: Specifying HTTPS ensures you're searching only the secure version of the website. This is important because Google may index both HTTP and HTTPS versions of a site, and you might get irrelevant results if you don't specify HTTPS.
• Security: Limiting your search to HTTPS guarantees you're only reaching secure pages on the website, protecting your connection from potential eavesdropping.
• Clarity: Including HTTPS explicitly communicates your intent to Google, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

While Google might technically crawl both HTTP and HTTPS versions for a site:example.com search, using site:https://example.com offers a more secure and precise search approach.

[megri]

Google might give slightly different results for site:example.com and site:https://example.com, but it depends on the specific website's configuration. Here's the breakdown:

Scenario 1: Website with only HTTPS:

• In this case, both site:example.com and site:https://example.com will return the same results. Since the website only uses HTTPS, Google won't find any HTTP versions to index.

Scenario 2: Website with both HTTP and HTTPS:

• This is where things get a little tricky. Google might crawl and potentially index both versions of the website depending on its configuration.
  • Properly configured website: If the website uses a 301 redirect from the HTTP version to the HTTPS version, Google will likely only show results from the HTTPS version for both search queries.
  • Not properly configured website: If there's no redirect in place, Google might index both versions and include them in the results for site:example.com. However, for site:https://example.com, it will only show the HTTPS versions.

Here's why it's still best to use site:https://example.com:

• Accuracy: Even in Scenario 1 where both searches return the same results, specifying HTTPS ensures you're only looking at the secure version.
• Consistency: Using site:https://example.com guarantees consistent results regardless of the website's configuration.
• Security: Limiting your search to HTTPS offers an extra layer of security, especially if the website doesn't have a proper redirect.

Recommendation:

Always use site:https://example.com for site searches. It's a more secure, accurate, and consistent way to find information on a specific website.

[megri]

Google definitely prefers https:// for search queries, even when you don't specify it. Here's why:

• Security: https:// encrypts communication between your browser and the website, making it more secure and protecting your data from being intercepted. This is especially important when entering sensitive information on a website.
• SEO: Google prioritizes secure websites in search results. Websites with https:// tend to rank higher in search results compared to those with just http://.
• Modern Standard: https:// is the current standard for secure web communication. Most websites have already transitioned to https:// and may not even have a functioning http:// version anymore.

For search queries like site:example.com:

• You don't need to specify the protocol (http:// or https://). Google will automatically search for the secure version (https://) by default.
• While technically you can use site:example.com -inurl:https to search only http:// pages, it's not recommended. Many websites may not even have an http:// version to search, and http:// connections are not secure.

Here's what to do:

• For most searches, simply use site:example.com without the protocol.
• If you're concerned about a specific website being http://, consider searching for the content itself instead of focusing on the protocol.

Remember:

• Google prioritizes secure connections (https://) for your safety and a better browsing experience.
• Using https:// is the recommended practice for both searching and general browsing.