Google Tests Removing Estimated Number Of Search Results

Google Search is testing removing the estimated number of search results figure you typically see under the search bar after you conduct a search query. Google tested this back in 2016 and I guess Google is testing it again.

Initially, when I was first told about this test by Punit on Twitter and then Eli Schwartz on Twitter last week, I thought maybe it was a CSS bug. But since then, a few other people noticed it, including Steve Plunket on Twitter and some on Facebook. So I guess this is a test.

Here is a GIF of it:

Here are more screenshots:

Google may removed about results & time in SERP
CC: @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/bu1FddVhRe

— Punit (@Punit6008) December 31, 2021

Number of results missing on "Site:" queries. Is this a test or a bug? cc:@rustybrick pic.twitter.com/BfuG0rePd3

— Eli Schwartz (@5le) February 24, 2022

I'm guessing these are UI tests, perhaps by cookie. Drop some feedback in the link on the bottom :)

— 🐐 John 🐐 (@JohnMu) March 2, 2022

The site command is really not that useful and known to be widely inaccurate - so I am not sure I care if it goes away... I suspect the estimated numbers shown is also super inaccurate...

Forum discussion at Twitter.

Update: John won't mind seeing them go away:

I like seeing big numbers too, but many people focus on those numbers way too much. Personally, I wouldn't mind if they went away, but I guess we'll see what happens with the tests :-).

— 🐐 John 🐐 (@JohnMu) March 11, 2022