If you have ever watched MTV’s internet sleuth series “Catfish: The TV Show,” then you are aware of host Nev Schulman’s ability to reverse image search to locate any image’s origin point.
While this searching method can dazzle anyone who’s never seen it before, it’s been a relatively long-term feature in search engines – especially Google.
However, the key here is realizing that reverse image searching anything is a simple process that anyone can accomplish.
First, you need to know where to look.
So, if you’re wondering how to reverse image search to find something on the internet, we’re here to show you how to accomplish it.
Let’s get started.
What Is a Reverse Image Search?
Reverse image searching is a great way to find information about pictures online.
It works by taking an image you have and using it to search the internet for related photos and information about the image.
It’s a valuable tool for finding out more about a picture and can be used for various purposes, like searching for fonts by images.
What Is Reverse Image Search Used For?
Reverse image searching has plenty of great applications, such as finding the origin point of an image or telling us more information about other types of images.
Find the Original Image
A reverse image search can yield where an image first got posted on the internet.
For example, if someone sends you a photo they claim belongs to them, you can reverse image search the image and locate if it got posted on social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Find Similar Images
In other applications, a reverse search can also help you find similar images to the one you’ve uploaded.
This search function works by analyzing the features of the image, such as color, shape, and texture, and then comparing it to other images in its database.
That can be useful for finding higher-resolution versions of an image, tracking down the source of an image, or simply finding other similar photos.
Can You Take a Picture of Something and Search for It?
Yes! You can do this, but do not expect to get any or many results.
A reverse image search works only if the image got uploaded elsewhere.
Can You Reverse Image Search a Screenshot?
Yes!
Regardless of it being a screenshot, most reverse image search programs can still look at the image and determine more information about it.
Best Reverse Image Search Engines
Of course, several reverse image search engines exist, and all of them offer different pros and cons.
Let’s review a few of the best so you can use one quickly.
The granddaddy of all search engines is one of the best reverse image search engines out there.
Google’s reverse image search began in 2011 as a feature of their Image Search engine.
The tool allows users to search for images using other images as a search query.
It works by using image recognition technology to match similar images from the web, providing users with a broader range of search results than they would have using traditional text-based search queries.
TinEye
Google may take up all the air in the room, but TinEye was one of the first innovators in reverse image searching.
TinEye was founded in 2008 and quickly became one of the web’s new favorite tools.
The company’s image search engine is one of the first to use image identification technology.
Bing Image Search
Yes, even Microsoft has gotten on board the reverse image search train.
First introduced in 2009 as a feature for the Bing search engine, Bing Image Search was designed to compete with Google Image Search.
Since then, Bing Image Search has become more sophisticated, adding features such as reverse image search to place the service on par with Google’s offering.
Pixsy
You may not have heard of Pixsy before, but the company founded in 2006 works to protect content creators around the world.
Pixsy has become a comprehensive content search and protection service, helping content creators protect their digital content from unauthorized use or misuse.
Pixsy continues to innovate and offer new products and services to content creators, helping them protect their work and ensure their content gets seen.
Yahoo Image Search
Remember Yahoo?
Your dad’s favorite search engine from the ‘90s has an image search function.
While it took the company a while to get with the times on reverse image searching, Yahoo’s search algorithms still compete with the big dogs in tech.
Pinterest Visual Search Tool
On Pinterest, you can use their search function to reverse image search.
Considering the content on the site, a reverse image search function is almost necessary for Pinterest.
How Do You Reverse Google Image Search?
Using Google Image Search for a reverse image search is simple.
Just follow these steps:
- Go to images.google.com: Open up your web browser and type images.google.com in the URL field.
- Click on the Camera in the Search Bar: When the Google Image Search webpage opens, click on the camera button in the search bar.
- Choose an Image: Google will then prompt you to select which image you want to reverse image search. We hope you’ve saved it in an easy place to remember!
- Search: Once you’ve selected your image, click the search button, and you’ll be whisked away to the search query results.
Wrapping Up
Reverse image search is a powerful and endlessly helpful tool for those seeking more information about imagery posted to the internet.
A reverse image search engine is your best bet if you’re seeking a tool to point you to when and where an image was first posted.
If you have any thoughts on reverse image searches or a fun or interesting story about the service, load them up in the comments below.
