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In Firefox, after searching for some keyword in Google and getting a list of results, I would like to copy the link address of a particular result. But I find that the link address is not the actual address, but some modification by Google to include some information about Google itself.

For example, search "regex Is it worth using Python re.compile" in Google, and the first result is "regex - Is it worth using Python's re.compile? - Stack Overflow" whose address is http://stackoverflow.com/questions/452104/is-it-worth-using-pythons-re-compile.

Right-clicking the result, and selecting "copy the location", I will get

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstackoverflow.com%2Fquestions%2F452104%2Fis-it-worth-using-pythons-re-compile&ei=j-WXTdKjE8KZ0QH7hNGGDA&usg=AFQjCNGl8DlEwS7SQ8vWxBPyiZBUbUj0Yg&sig2=Mnnj7wRN1Z6on5hjIuq7FQ

But I wish to get just http://stackoverflow.com/questions/452104/is-it-worth-using-pythons-re-compile.

I remember Google search used to work in the same way as I wish, but now it has changed. I was wondering if I am missing something and how to do as I wish?

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5 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

There's a Greasemonkey script that can change the Google Search result links back to direct links, then you can simply copy and paste them like normal links on the web.

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Aww, man. I was off searching for another solution, came back after having found the Greasemonkey script, edited my post... and then saw this update! :( Upvote for beating me to it. – Ryan Apr 3 '11 at 3:18
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up vote 5 down vote

The actual link location is located directly below the link description. You could copy and paste it from there.

enter image description here

I assume the added stuff is so that Google can log when others are accessing that site link.

If the problem is the link length, you could try using a URL shortening service.

There's a Greasemonkey Script that will disable what you're talking about.

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Thanks! The Python example is too simple. When the actual address is too long, Google will not display the full length of the address. For example, after searching "python regex", the first result. – Tim Apr 3 '11 at 3:09
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You could find abbreviations like www.confickerworkinggroup.org/...test/cfeyechart.html – belisarius Apr 3 '11 at 3:09
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up vote 3 down vote

If you click on the result, and open such a page, you will see that the address bar in the top of your browser (where it says http://*), the address will also change to http://www.python.org/. You can copy the address from there.
What Ryan said is also true, but the problem is that google also shortens links (ex: "nl.wikipedia.org/.../Python_(programmeertaal)").

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This does not work if the search result is, e.g., a PDF document (or in general something that is not displayed by your browser). – Jukka Suomela Apr 25 '11 at 0:48
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up vote 1 down vote

You can also use the scroogle site (http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm) which is primarlily aimed at "google privacy concerns", bit a side effect is it produces direct links.

Scroogle is occasionally "broken"/doesn't work, mostly after google adds some innovation that changes the way it works.

It also won't give you the same answers as google, if your results have geographic weighting, or other non-generic search order issues.

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up vote 1 down vote

I also thought what you said happens, but looks like it doesn't: enter image description here

Any possibility this is browser dependent? Which browser are you using? (Screenshot from Firefox 4, same behavior in Chrome, both on OSX 10.6)

I thought this may be dependent whether you are signed in to Google or not. But it is not. The behavior is the same.

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I think it's dependent on whether you happen to be on their sample group at that time or not; I've had it happen to me some days and not others, using the same browser, account, etc. – André Paramés Apr 3 '11 at 12:34
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It shows it like that in the statusbar, but that's some javascript magic you're seeing, on the onmousedown on the link the link is changed. Try copying the link, you'll see that doesn't copies that link ;) – Stormenet Apr 3 '11 at 13:42
@Stormenet I remember it happening before, but at least right now it points to the target page (the href is the target page). Could be a focus group, as @André Paramés pointed out... – Nivas Apr 3 '11 at 14:12
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this is the html from that particular link: <a class="l" onmousedown="return rwt(this,'','','','4','AFQjCNGl8DlEwS7SQ8vWxBPyiZBUbUj0Yg','Nlw9cdFH31TadhaL8C4A‌​8g','0CDEQFjAD')" href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/452104/is-it-worth-using-pythons-re-compile" done="done" realurl="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/452104/is-it-worth-using-pythons-re-compile"><em>regex - Is it worth using Python's re.compile</em>? - Stack Overflow</a>Which is clearly changing the link on mousedown,try mousdedown on it,and drag away so you don't click it, the link will be different next time you hover – Stormenet Apr 3 '11 at 19:36
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