Reverse image search with Google: Search by image

When you search for something with a search engine like Google, hundreds of thousands of results appear within a few milliseconds. These are then subdivided into search results, including under ‘Images’ which lists photographs that are assigned to the search term. So, how exactly does the reverse image search function work? Have you ever stood in front of a building and wondered, ‘What kind of building is this?’. If so, then Google’s reverse image search could definitely come in handy for you. Google’s memory draws on its available pool of images and compares them with your search image.

Another example of a situation when you might use this function is if you have a photograph as a file and want to check whether it’s used on other websites. Our guide will explain how to use different devices and operating systems to perform a Google reverse image search.

Google’s reverse image search tries to identify distinctive features in an image. It uses outlines, structures, lettering, logos, colours, and combinations of these different features to identify certain objects in an image. The search results display individual or multiple identified objects, similar images, or websites that contain either your search image or similar images.

To get the search results, you must input the photograph that you want to search for into Google. It works best in a browser on a PC, but you can also try to use ‘Google Lens’ on mobile devices that have a camera. The principle is the same: Google compares the photograph that you input with all available image databases.

You’re probably already familiar with Google’s direct image search. By entering text, you can display specific images as search results. You can also use Google search operators to perform a refined and detailed search with the input field. If the location of the PC, mobile phone, or tablet that you are using is known, local search results will appear first.

It’s highly likely that if you’re using a PC to perform the reverse image search, you’ll use an existing image from the PC’s hard drive. To do this, enter the following URL in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari:

In the results, you get the pixel dimensions of the uploaded image as well as search results in text form and search results as ‘similar images’. If a known object is embedded in an environment, like the Berlin TV Tower in the example above, ‘Berlin TV Tower’ may not necessarily appear in the results of the reverse image search. Here there are clearly other objects in the photograph which have led to the search result ‘metropolitan area’ coming up. As such, this search result may lead back to similar photos on websites that feature the topic ‘metropolitan area’.

Google also extrapolates the contents of an image from the associated text information, the alternative text (or alt text for short), and from the information that is in the context of an image on a website. This is important for the selection of image details from an image SEO point of view, as well as when it comes to selecting images for and designing image galleries for websites.

In the search bar, Google automatically recommends a search term alongside the image you have used for the search (e.g. metropolitan area), which may not necessarily match your search intent. Most of the time, this search term describes what can be seen in the photograph. As previously mentioned, Google’s ‘experience’ with similar photographs on other websites plays a role here and is thus not always precise. You can change the recommended search term by restarting the search. Simply press the Enter key or search icon to obtain more suitable search results.

After tapping on the symbol (1), ‘Google Lens’ opens and accesses the camera of the iOS device. The app marks recognised objects with a blue point surrounded by a white outline. Tap on the shutter release button (2) to start the search process. As you can see with this example, the Berlin TV Tower is recognised and quickly appears as a search result. When you swipe the search result up, other similar information and search results are displayed.

When using the app for the first time, you must give it permission to access your camera. The standard view will appear through the camera viewfinder, along with outlines that must be ‘aimed at’ the object that you want to search for. Simply tap the shutter (2) to start the search. A recognised object, which was previously marked with a blue point surrounded by a white outline, will be displayed as a search result. You can swipe up the page with the search results to see more and similar information.