Google image recognition: this is how reverse image search works

With the Google image recognition you can start a reverse image search with the popular search engine. We’ll show you here on GIGA how the reverse search works and what other functions it offers.

With the Google image search you can not only search for specific motifs and photos by entering text. You can also upload pictures yourself or insert them from another website in order to find the photo in better quality, its origin or similar images.

Reverse image search: This is how you use Google image recognition

There are three approaches to using Google’s reverse image search. We have summarized you guys here as you get on images.google.de searches for images with images:

1. Using drag & drop:
   Probably the easiest way to use reverse search. Simply drag the image from a folder or other browser window into the search field the google image search. Then Google takes the picture and gives you – depending on the image recognition – its results.
   

2. Via URL:
   If you have the URL of the respective picture ready, you can simply click on the camera symbol in the search field. Then you add below “Insert image url” the respective address and Google starts the reverse search.
   

   

3. Via upload:
   If you prefer to rummage through your folder structures manually, you have to click on the camera symbol in the search field and then on the tab “Upload Image” select. Then click the button “Search”to get a Picture from your computer to select.
   

   

Google reverse search on your smartphone? (Android)

You can also use the reverse search on the Google website in the browser on current Android phones – but there is one for this little trick necessary.

So that you can see the camera in the search field, you have to Desktop page use in the smartphone browser. To do this, go to the Google image search as usual and then tap on the in the browser Menu icon (⋮ or ≡) and activates the “Desktop website” option.

The operation is a bit tricky, but now you can also insert an image URL on the smartphone via the camera symbol or upload photos from your mobile phone and thus start the reverse search.

What does Google image recognition offer?

After the respective image has been uploaded to Google, the search engine will spit you out among other things matching search term, the Image size and websites on which the same picture occurs. For example, you can also see whether one of your own pictures, which you have uploaded yourself somewhere, is perhaps used on another site.

If you click on “All sizes” under the result, you will often find the same picture in higher resolution or the original photo in Original quality. With a click on “Optically similar images” you can find additional images that are similar to the uploaded one.

Find out stars, animal species & plant species?

While basic things like the name of a Hollywood star can often be found out with the help of a clear image with the Google image recognition, the image recognition of Google usually ends here. With a bit of luck, you can also identify some animal or plant species with the reverse image search – but it is not actually designed for this purpose.

So if you don’t want to search for the origin or the same picture in better quality, but prefer to find out what is actually shown in the picture, you should take a look at the “Google Lens” app. With this you can photograph the dog that is walking past you, or the pretty flower in the park, and immediately get a determination of the animal species, breed or plant species.

Alternatively, you can also use the image recognition from IBM, which is based on the learning artificial intelligence Watson.

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