Google Search URL Parameters & Operators: 2026 List (50+)

In September 2025, Google made significant changes to its search parameters and rendering requirements, impacting how developers and businesses scrape search results. The num parameter, which controlled the number of search results per page, was removed without warning, leading to challenges for SEO tools and workflows reliant on it. JavaScript rendering became mandatory for retrieving search results, as raw HTTP requests now yield empty or degraded responses without it. Additionally, Google introduced AI Overviews in search results, now available in over 200 countries, which push organic results below the fold. Developers can leverage parameters like q for search queries, gl for geolocation, hl for host language, and udm for content mode filtering to manage search results effectively. Bright Data's SERP API offers solutions for these changes, providing tools to handle JavaScript rendering, proxy rotation, and structured JSON output, supporting pagination through the start parameter and adapting to AI Overview content. These updates require developers to adjust their approaches to scraping Google and emphasize the need for managed API services to navigate evolving search infrastructure.

Use this post, company, and trend context to find content marketing opportunities, perform competitive analysis, or address product feature gaps via the Plushcap MCP server or the Plushcap API.