Search Query
The text a person types into Google. In Search Console the Queries dimension groups your data by it; it is not your keyword list.
Reviewed by Alexander Yarovenko · Updated: 2026-10-04
A search query is the text a person types or speaks into Google. In Search Console the Queries dimension groups your performance data by those terms, showing which queries led to impressions and clicks for your site. It is data about demand and wording, and it is not a keyword list you chose.
What it is and where the boundary lies
A query is what the searcher entered, in their own words and spelling. A keyword is a term you choose to target. In the Performance report the Queries dimension groups data by the query users typed, so a row can contain wording you never planned for. Google omits some queries from the report to protect privacy; these are called anonymized queries.
How it differs from similar terms
| Term | Who chooses it | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Search query | the searcher | Search Console Queries dimension |
| Keyword | you, as a target | research tools and your plan |
| Search intent | inferred from the query | analysis of results |
| Long-tail query | the searcher, in a longer, rarer form | often a small share of impressions each |
Why it matters
Queries show the language people use when your pages appear, including variants, questions and typos. They reveal gaps between your wording and theirs, point to pages worth improving and show which topics already bring impressions. Paired with a page, a query tells you what that page is actually shown for.
What Google documents about queries in the report
- Anonymized queries: some queries are omitted to protect privacy.
- Totals: anonymized queries are included in chart totals unless a query filter is applied, so the sum of table rows can be lower than the total.
- Truncation: the table shows the most important rows; bulk data export gives fuller lists.
- Filtering: query filters are case-insensitive.
How to use queries in practice
- Open the Performance report and switch to the Queries tab.
- Sort by impressions to see demand, then by clicks to see what already works.
- Add a page filter to see what one page is shown for.
- Look for high impressions with a low CTR: the wording of the result may not match.
- Group similar queries by intent rather than reading each in isolation.
- Compare two equal periods before concluding that a query grew or fell.
Practical example
| Query | Impressions | Clicks | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| soft 404 meaning | 800 | 40 | definition intent, answered well |
| how to fix soft 404 | 1 200 | 24 | how-to intent, the page may not lead with the fix |
| soft 404 vs 404 | 300 | 30 | comparison intent, a table already helps |
The second query has the most impressions and the lowest CTR: 24 ÷ 1 200 = 0.02, against 40 ÷ 800 = 0.05 and 30 ÷ 300 = 0.10. That is where to look first.
Common mistakes
- Treating queries as the keyword list: they are what people typed, not what you targeted.
- Expecting rows to add up to the total: anonymized queries are in the totals but not in the rows.
- Reading a query without its page: the same query can show different pages over time.
- Judging by one day or a few impressions: small numbers swing widely.
- Ignoring intent: two similar queries can want different answers.
How to validate the result
When a query matters, check it in a live search to see what Google shows for it, then compare impressions, clicks, CTR and position for the same page and period before and after your change. Remember that the report shows only part of the long tail.
More questions
Why do the query rows not add up to the total?
Anonymized queries are included in chart totals but omitted from the table, and the table shows only the most important rows.
Can I see every query?
No. Some are omitted for privacy; bulk data export gives fuller lists than the interface.
Is a query the same as a keyword?
No. A query is what a person typed; a keyword is what you choose to target.
Next practical step
Pick one page, filter the Queries tab by it and write the intent next to the five queries with the most impressions. The playbook on striking-distance keywords shows how to pick candidates from this list.
Related concepts
- Impressions — how often a result appeared for a query.
- Clicks — how often it was chosen.
- Average position — where it appeared.
- Google Search Console — where queries are reported.