32

I performed a Google Image search, it shows results, but when I send the search URL to someone, they can not see any result:

https://www.google.com/search?as_q=berlin&tbs=sur:fmc&biw=1855&bih=990&tbm=isch#bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&ei=VOgBUtS6JcX-lAX6s4CYBA&fp=4119dba43ada9276&q=berlin&sa=X&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbs=sur:fmc,isz:lt,islt:4mp&ved=0CCIQpwU

Actually, the link does not even work in a new tab of the same browser.
Here is how I performed the search:

  1. Go to search.creativecommons.org
  2. Enter berlin
  3. Click on Google Images
  4. Once you have been redirected to Google Images, click on the Size filter, select Larger than… and then 4 MP (2272×1704).

Screenshot of Google Images, searching for berlin, with filters applied

How to share the resulting link successfully?

0

4 Answers 4

19

The problem seems to be the part after the #, but it works if you use the Google Advanced Image Search directly.

The full URL that you will get for the search above:

https://www.google.com/search?as_st=y&tbm=isch&hl=en&as_q=berlin&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&cr=&as_sitesearch=&safe=images&tbs=isz:lt,islt:4mp,sur:fmc&biw=2560&bih=1342&sei=9QACUs3cPObw4QS-6IEQ

That URL can be shortened:

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&as_q=berlin&tbs=isz:lt,islt:4mp,sur:fmc

You can then easily change the search term:

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&as_q=vienna&tbs=isz:lt,islt:4mp,sur:fmc

2
28

A basic search on Google is /search?q=<query>

https://google.com/search?q=space

to make it an image search, simply add &tbm=isch

https://google.com/search?q=space&tbm=isch

to add additional criteria to your search, use the advanced search tool, and only add the value of &tbs=<criteria> from the results. for example, a >= 4 megapixel teal GIF search would add &tbs=isz:lt,islt:4mp,ic:specific,isc:teal,ift:gif

https://google.com/search?q=space&tbm=isch&tbs=isz:lt,islt:4mp,ic:specific,isc:teal,ift:gif

Note: by <criteria> we mean up to an &. Learn more about URI formatting (including query strings) at...

4
  • 2
    Simpler is better.
    – Ryan DuVal
    May 10, 2017 at 3:12
  • 2
    Doesn't seem to work in 2020
    – rraallvv
    Sep 16, 2020 at 0:57
  • 1
    rraallvv all the links in my answer still work. Please explain what you mean by "doesn't seem to work". Sep 19, 2020 at 3:16
  • These work as links, but if you paste any of them into the Safari (for Mac) address bar you get a standard web search. Changing q to as_q fixes that. Jan 20, 2021 at 12:05
6

The secret sauce is tbm=isch. tbm stands for "to be matched", and isch is short for "image search."

Example: https://www.google.com/search?q=greyhound+puppies&tbm=isch

4
  • Check this question for the tbm explanation.
    – Alex
    Jul 17, 2018 at 15:32
  • In my question, steps 1 and 4 are the most important, and this answer disregards them.
    – nic
    Jul 18, 2018 at 1:26
  • Maybe I misunderstood what you were asking -- sorry about that. I'm answering the question "what do I need to add to a google search URL query string to make it search images?" Jul 18, 2018 at 15:39
  • @Alex: thanks for the pointer about tbm. I've updated my answer. Jul 18, 2018 at 15:41
1
https://www.google.com/images?q=

imagesize:2272x1704
+
near:berlin

https://www.google.com/images?q=imagesize:2272x1704+near:berlin

https://www.google.com/images?q=imagesize:2272x1704+near:berlin

explanation :

hyper text transport protocol

http

Secured(Encrypted)

s

network folder

//

worldwide web

www

domain name

.google 

domain type

.com

folder

/

file

images

query

php , a server side program . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP

?q=

image size

imagesize:

near

near:

search word
search words can not contain spaces .
use the + , the plus symbol to join each word .
an example : to+search+for+this+have+to+replace+spaces+with+plus+symbol

can also use location instead of near

location: 

Example:

https://www.google.com/images?q=imagesize:2272x1704+location:belgium+vegan+restaurant

https://www.google.com/images?q=imagesize:2272x1704+location:belgium+vegan+restaurant

If anybody knows what period means, can you please comment. Thanks in advance.

3
  • You forgot the image conditions (size above 4MP and license).
    – nic
    Jul 15, 2018 at 14:13
  • In my question, steps 1 and 4 are the most important, and this answer disregards them.
    – nic
    Jul 18, 2018 at 1:26
  • updated the answer .
    – abc
    Aug 15, 2018 at 0:43

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