The phrases that pop up when you search on Google: Are those the most searched phrases?

Yes.

I don’t know. Google does not talk about how their search algorithm works.

Where are these “phrases”?

@erichw1504 If you start typing something into the google search bar, like “What is…”, it will show you a list of phrases that are searched the most often.

@Blackberry Oh, OK.

I sure hope not… there are some dumb questions on there like these, @erichw1504.

The autocomplete suggestions are the most common searches as it’s assuming that’s what you’re looking for, it’s also affected by your prior search history, so for example if you google ‘spanking”, and you’re a new parent using google a lot for tips, it’s going to assume you mean the disciplinary behavior and not the whole naughty spanking kind of thing.

Google Trends will give you a basic overview of what’s popular right now, and if you search for a term, it’ll show you how popular that search is over time.

If so, search many interrogative words like “what” when” and “Where are” “why are” etc… very interesting….

According to this book that I am currently reading, the results are also tuned by your own past searches and by pages you have visited, to increase the likelihood that you will get what you want, and quickly. Other factors include searches that are currently most popular in your own locale.

Google does not reveal the logic behind its extremely complex and effective search algorithms, but plenty of brilliant information professionals have devoted quantities of time to working it out, and it is possible for them to make some true statements about it.