The three-dots menu in Google Search next to results? It's a new feature!

[harlan4096]

Google has started the rollout of a new Google Search feature yesterday for users in the United States. The change adds a three-dots menu to each site listed by Google Search in the results. A click on the menu displays an overlay with website information.The feature, labeled as Beta by Google, displays an excerpt of the site's article on Wikipedia, if an entry is available. Google is showing "additional context that may be available" for sites without a Wikipedia description.

Right now, Google is displaying when the site was first indexed by the company's search engine.

The overlay shows whether the site uses HTTPS, and the full URL. Links to provide Google with feedback, open the privacy settings, a cached copy, and run a search to find out "how search works" are listed as well. Google users may click outside of the overlay area to return to the search results on the page.

Google features, e.g. Jobs or local business listings, a description that describes how Google sources the information is provided.

Why is Google introducing the change?

Google notes that the feature is designed to help search users "make a more informed decision about the sites" that they visit. The added information can give users " context or peace of mind" according to the announcement.

Closing Words

The new three-dots menu adds an option on mobile to look up the full address of a search result without leaving the Google search results page or complicated actions. Mobile space is limited, and it happens that the full URL of a site is not displayed in the mobile results.

The Wikipedia description that Google displays is very short; a link to Wikipedia is provided to read the entire entry on the site. Google does display a widget with information about the top search result when available; this widget includes additional information and it is unclear why Google is not displaying all the information in the new overlay as well.

Google did not reveal plans to roll out the feature to other regions at the time of writing.

Now You: What is your take on the new option?
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