Why Google can't search for words prefixed with '--'?

by ronbeltranon 9/24/2011, 4:41 AMwith 2 comments

Why Google can't search for words prefixed with '--' ? Try searching for "--enable-thread" https://twitter.com/#!/ronbeltran/status/117457491176071168

by Argorakon 9/24/2011, 7:40 AM

It can. Try to quote the term:

"--enable-thread"

(with quotes)

will yield results.

by saiko-chriskunon 9/24/2011, 5:54 AM

if you prefix anything with a dash google takes that keyword out of search queries, for the most part.

so if I wanted to search for computer stuff, but nothing to do with windows, I'd type in: "computers -windows"