When searching something using the Google Search app for
Android devices, sometimes you will see a link to an application that has been
installed in the device. Such a feature is called App Indexing that aims to
allow users to access the right content in the application quickly.
For example, you're looking for a review of a restaurant.
Write the name of the restaurant on Google Search, and then the list of results
will appear as usual. In the midst of the search results, you will see an
option to view content through a number of existing applications in your
device.
So far, App Indexing has managed to pack around 30 billion
links to contents within the application. But Google still makes some
improvements to enhance the App Indexing.
In addition to displaying links to the installed
applications, the App Indexing feature of Google Search for Android will
display links to the Google Play so that users can directly download the
applications. Simply put, Google Search now will display the 'Install' button
for a number of applications that package relevant contents with the search results.
Interestingly, after the application has been installed, it
will display the 'Continue' button. Press the button, and the users will be
taken directly to the right content in the application - the same content as
the one shown in the search results of Google Search before.
Surely this function will not be activated without the
intervention of the applications developers. They need to integrate the App
Indexing feature in their applications first.
Hopefully, with the App Indexing improvement, developers of Android
applications can attract more new customers in the future. At the same time,
users will be able to find relevant information quickly.