Google Trends topics vs search terms: what each one measures
Google Trends topics vs search terms differ in scope: a search term matches the exact words in the chosen language, while a topic groups every term that shares the same concept in any language. Google's example is London: the topic includes searches such as Capital of the UK and Londres. Topics suit brands, people and places; search terms suit exact queries.
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What is a Google Trends topic?
A Google Trends topic is a group of terms that share the same concept in any language. Google’s example: choosing the topic London includes searches such as «Capital of the UK» and «Londres», the Spanish name of the city, according to Google Trends Help. Google Trends categorizes each search to determine its topic, which is how the grouping works.
What is a Google Trends search term?
A Google Trends search term matches the words of the query in the chosen language. Search terms follow 3 rules that Google Trends Help documents.
- Exact words. The term matches its words, so «banana sandwich» counts searches that contain both words.
- No variants. Misspellings, spelling variations, synonyms, plurals and singular versions return no results.
- Operators. Quotation marks keep an exact phrase, and the + sign combines terms into one line.
Google Trends topics vs search terms compared
Google Trends topics and search terms differ in 4 criteria.
| Criterion | Topic | Search term |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | Every term with the same concept | The exact words |
| Languages | Any language | The chosen language |
| Variants | Grouped into the concept | Not included |
| Best for | Brands, people, places, entities | Exact queries and phrases |
When to use a topic or a search term
Use a topic or a search term according to the question. A topic fits when the question is about an entity across languages and spellings, such as a brand or a city. A search term fits when the question is about the exact words people type, such as a product query, a keyword for a page or a phrase. Comparisons stay consistent only when every line uses the same type.
How to get topic and term data at scale
To get topic and term data at scale, start from a keyword list: keyword lists contain search terms, so an API run on them measures search terms, and the Google Trends index of each term then reads on the same 0–100 logic.
- The Google Trends API for any keyword list analyzes search terms, and a pasted Explore URL keeps its own location, time range and category.
Google Trends topics FAQ
Can I combine search terms in Google Trends?
Yes. The + sign combines terms into one line, such as ねこ + cat, which adds Japanese and English searches for cat together.
Do search terms include misspellings and plurals?
No. A search term returns no results for misspellings, spelling variations, synonyms, plurals or singular versions, according to Google Trends Help.