Google’s search page now has icons next to the categories to help clarify search

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Google’s new search bar interface is rolling out, as noticed by Search Engine Land yesterday.

Now, instead of just the search category headings, there will be a line-style icon that should make navigation a little easier.

Icons are important

No, not just cultural ones like Marilyn Monroe or that singer in One Direction, but icons to help navigate. We’re so used to icons on our smartphones that they’re second-nature to us now.

Google putting icons on the search navigation bar might not seem that important, but to the 17-percent of the world’s population that’s still illiterate (in 2017) – they could be the difference between using the internet effectively or not.

Now the various search categories all have a line-style icon next to them that mirrors the icons that we’re used to seeing on our smartphones. That includes a price tag for Shopping, a play button inside a frame for Videos, and a simple version of the Google Maps icon for Maps.

Screenshot: KnowTechie

This is a good look for Google and the next stage in its Material Theme redesign for the search page. Note the pop of Google-colors on the icon for the tab you’re currently on. The search page used to have icons on desktop, but Google removed them for some reason back in 2011.

If you can’t see the icons when you navigate to Google, that just means the change hasn’t gone live for you yet. It’ll be there soon.

What do you think? Glad to see these icons being added to Google search results? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.