NEWS Google fully discontinues cache links in Search

The cached search results from Google have become part of the list of discontinued features and services in Google's history. In response to a recent post, Google Search liaison Danny Sullivan confirmed the retirement of the cache link. Sullivan mentioned that the feature, among the oldest at Google, originally aimed to assist users in accessing pages when a stable internet connection couldn't be guaranteed.

Cache links provided a snapshot of a webpage at the time of indexing, offering a helpful way to view content when a page wouldn't load due to issues like a shaky internet connection or heavy traffic. They also served to track page edits and see content that had been removed.

Danny Sullivan expressed a personal desire for Google to replace cache links with links to the Internet Archive in the "About This Result" section, accessible through the three dots next to a search result. He highlighted the potential collaboration with the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, acknowledging that it involves others beyond him but sees it as a beneficial addition.

Certainly, Sullivan's suggestion of integrating the Wayback Machine seems promising. However, addressing the potential delay in retrieving archived pages would be crucial for user experience. It's important to maintain efficiency, considering that Google's cache links were known for their quicker accessibility compared to the sometimes time-consuming nature of retrieving archived content.

Yes, currently, the cache: operator is still available as a workaround. However, according to Danny Sullivan, it's expected to be phased out soon. To utilize it, you can perform a search with the format cache:https://www.example.com, replacing "example" with the specific URL you wish to access cached results for.
 
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