Google in 1998
Quick Facts
- Summary
- Google’s 1998 homepage and a taste of early search, tucked inside a retro Internet Explorer-style window.
- Creator
- Launched
- 2013-09-26
- Status
- Active
(Enhanced by elgooG)
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The Original Version
How It Started
Google introduced the “Google in 1998” Easter egg in September 2013 for its 15th anniversary. Searching that phrase opened a results page styled after the early service.
Google was incorporated in September 1998; the 2013 effect used its early interface to mark the anniversary.
What It Did
The official Easter egg recreates a 1998-style results page, with the early Google logo and its exclamation point above a plain list of blue links.
Impact and Reach
The anniversary effect put fifteen years of interface changes side by side: sparse blue links on one screen, with a “Take me back to 2013” link leading back to the search people used every day.
What’s Enhanced Here
Google’s Easter egg focused on the results page. This edition adds a recreated 1998 homepage as the starting point for the experience.
The Enhanced Experience
What’s Different Here
Google’s anniversary effect showed an early results page. This edition adds a 1998 homepage and puts both views inside an Internet Explorer 4.0-style window, using pixel-style lettering and the old logo with its exclamation point.
The Easter Egg Experience
Open the 1998 homepage and look around: the early logo, the simple search box, and links from that time. Whatever you search for, you’ll always get the same sample results for “google”. The old links, the page numbers, and the subscription box are only there for show.
How to Try It
- Click the button above to open the recreated homepage.
- Look around the 1998 layout and type something into the search box.
- Click “Google Search” to open the sample results for “google”.
- Click the Google logo on the results page to go back to the homepage.
In 1998, web portals often packed their homepages with links, while Google put its search box at the center. This page places that early layout inside an Internet Explorer 4.0-style window, recalling the browser released in 1997.
Final Thoughts
The search box is familiar; the “Stanford Search” and “Linux Search” links below it belong to a different era of the web.
Try the Easter Egg
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the “Google in 1998” Easter egg?
Google’s original anniversary Easter egg showed a 1998-style results page. This edition also recreates the early homepage, with its logo, simple layout, and historical navigation links.
In this recreation, any search opens the same sample results page for “google”. Its plain text and blue links show what early Google looked like.
Why did Google create the “Google in 1998” Easter egg?
Google added it in 2013 to celebrate its 15th anniversary.
Google began as a Stanford research project. The “Stanford Search”, “Linux Search”, and “Company Info” links on our recreated homepage are reminders of those early years.
How do I use the “Google in 1998” Easter egg?
Click the button above to open the recreated homepage, then type something in. Both “Google Search” and “I'm feeling lucky” take you to the same sample results for “google”, no matter what you type.
The historical links and pagination can be clicked without opening another page. The subscription box accepts typing, but it does not sign you up. The Google logo on the results page takes you back to the recreated homepage.