Google just turned 15 and announced a change to its search algorithm. Called Hummingbird, it could nip at the heels of smaller sites, like happened with the previous one. The last changes to Google algorithm, Panda and Penguin, only fixed its parts, but didn’t replace the whole. The developers admit that Hummingbird is a complete rewrite, though it still uses some parts of the old code.

The industry observers remember that the last major change was four years ago – the "Caffeine Update". It helped the search engine better collect data than sorting through it. Meanwhile, the last time the company carried out a rewrite this large was 2001.

The experts regard it as a testament to the power Google has in defining online content that it can be the king maker for many careers in the worldwide web. If this search engine can find you and defines your website as acceptable, then everyone in the world will be able to find you. New search algorithm defines where you get your news from, rather than anything like providing interesting material.

Thus far, little is known about Hummingbird, because the company has only confirmed it was the most comprehensive overhaul to Google since “Caffeine” in 2009. The developers said that the algorithm allows it to look at long, complex questions more quickly, instead of being bogged down by each word. It also helps identify and rank answers from indexed material.

The most interesting fact is that the new code has been in use for the last month, but only announced now. Apparently, there’s been no major outcry among publishers that they have lost rankings, and it supports Google. The developers say this is a query-by-query effect, able to improve particular searches.

Perhaps other search algorithm changes might have already stuffed up smaller websites enough so that the innovation will make little difference. However, taking into account what has happened in the past, a few might be taking a quizzical look at their traffic this month.

Hrm, no solid info = lots of time wasted guessing.

Very interesting.