Google has officially confirmed that the “before:” and “after:” search operators are still in beta mode and require specific date formats to work correctly.
A user recently asked how to find web articles published before a major event—not just within the past year, month, or day. Google’s Search Liaison responded with a helpful, though slightly complex, method using advanced operators:
Examples:
avengers endgame before:2019
avengers endgame after:2019-04-01
avengers endgame after:2019-03-01 before:2019-03-05
Pro Tip:
These search operators need exact dates (YYYY-MM-DD) to work. So, they might not be user-friendly for everyone—especially on the go.
Easier Alternative
Use Google’s built-in filters:
1.Click on Tools
2.Select Any Time
3.Choose Custom Range
You can then pick any date range—quick, visual, and no need to memorize format codes!
But Here’s the Catch
Google’s Search Liaison also highlighted a limitation: It’s tough for Google to always determine the accurate publication date of content. Some websites don’t provide dates at all, and others may republish older content without updating the timestamp.
Key Takeaways:
- “Before:” and “After:” operators are still experimental
- They require specific formats and aren’t widely known
- Custom Date Range in Google Search Tools is a great alternative
- Google can’t always confirm the original publishing date accurately
