{"id":23782,"date":"2015-05-01T21:01:03","date_gmt":"2015-05-01T13:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/?p=23782"},"modified":"2023-10-31T23:05:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T15:05:04","slug":"search-with-duckduckgo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/search-with-duckduckgo\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons to Use DuckDuckGo for Web Search"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most people use search engines to find answers to their questions or solutions to their problems. Google.com, for instance, handles over 3 billion search requests daily. But there are other good search engines out there, one of which is DuckDuckGo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider making DuckDuckGo your go-to search engine.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRead Also:<\/strong>\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t100+ Alternative Search Engines You Should Know<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

1. Keep Your Searches Private<\/h2>\n

When you use Google.com, it keeps track of your searches. This tracking helps Google offer more personalized search results in the future. You can learn how to benefit from this<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But sometimes, our searches can reveal personal information, like health issues or concerns, that we\u2019d rather keep private. In such situations, many people prefer not to be tracked. DuckDuckGo respects this choice. By default, it doesn\u2019t monitor your searches. This commitment to privacy is even highlighted in their tagline.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRead Also:<\/strong>\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tHow to Always Open Your Browser in Private Mode<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

If you want to tweak your privacy settings, click on Options Button > Advanced Settings > Privacy<\/strong>. There, you can choose whether you want to be tracked on certain sites and which version of http<\/strong> you\u2019d like to use. The privacy section also lets you set up video playback preferences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"DuckDuckGo's<\/figure>\n

2. Store Your Settings Online<\/h2>\n

DuckDuckGo lets you store your browser settings online using a passphrase. It utilizes the Amazon S3<\/a> service for this. Simply save your settings with a passphrase, and you can access them from any computer by entering the same passphrase.<\/p>\n

To turn on Cloud Save, head over to Advanced Settings<\/strong>. You\u2019ll find the Cloud Save<\/strong> option on the right side.<\/p>\n

\"DuckDuckGo's<\/figure>\n

Click on Save Settings<\/strong>, input your passphrase, and press the Save<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n

\"Saving<\/figure>\n

To apply these settings on another computer, navigate to Advanced Settings > Load Settings,<\/strong> and type in the passphrase you set. Hit the Load<\/strong> button to activate the settings.<\/p>\n

\"Loading<\/figure>\n

3. Customize Searches for Specific Regions<\/h2>\n

On DuckDuckGo, you can adjust your region settings to get search results tailored for audiences from a specific area. To do this, navigate to Advanced Settings > General > Region<\/strong> and select the desired region.<\/p>\n

\"Setting<\/figure>\n

4. Organized Search Results into Categories<\/h2>\n

DuckDuckGo organizes search results by category. For example, if you search for \u201cheight,\u201d the results will be grouped into top results related to the term, and specific categories like mathematics, people, and places.<\/p>\n

\"Categorized<\/figure>\n
\"Mathematical<\/figure>\n

5. Access Information Quickly<\/h2>\n

DuckDuckGo typically offers a concise answer right after you conduct a search, eliminating the need for additional clicks. This feature is particularly useful when you\u2019re looking for a quick definition or a brief overview of a topic.<\/p>\n

\"Quick<\/figure>\n

6. View All Search Results on One Page<\/h2>\n

In many search engines, results for a query spread across several pages. Most people, almost 90%, only view the first page, possibly thinking that results on subsequent pages are less relevant. This isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n

DuckDuckGo has taken this into account and presents all search results on a single page. Simply scroll down, and more results appear<\/strong> without having to click to a next page.<\/p>\n

7. Experience Ad-Free Searches<\/h2>\n

By default, DuckDuckGo shows ads relevant to your searches. However, you can search without seeing these ads. To turn them off, navigate to Advanced Settings > General > Advertisements > Off<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

8. Use the !Bang Feature for Faster Searches<\/h2>\n

A standout feature of DuckDuckGo is the !bang. To demonstrate how it works: in the DuckDuckGo search bar, type \u201c!amazon breaking bad\u201d (excluding the quotes) and press Enter.<\/p>\n

\"Using<\/figure>\n

This command will directly take you<\/strong> to the Amazon website, displaying search results for \u201cbreaking bad\u201d items as returned by Amazon\u2019s own search engine.<\/p>\n

\"Breaking<\/figure>\n

The !bang feature supports \u201chundreds\u201d of sites. You can see the complete list here<\/a>. If you wish to add a site to this feature, send your suggestion here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Handy Keyboard Shortcuts<\/h2>\n

DuckDuckGo offers several keyboard shortcuts to make your search experience smoother. For example, you can use the j<\/span> key or the down arrow, and the k<\/span> key or up arrow to navigate through the search results.<\/p>\n

Some other shortcuts include:<\/p>\n