Introduction
Have you ever heard someone say, “I switched to Safari as my search engine”? That’s a mix-up Safari is not a search engine. It is a browser that uses other engines like Google or DuckDuckGo to fetch the results. Let us break it down in plain terms, for the confusion between browsers and engines is rampant.
What Makes Safari Different from a Search Engine?
Safari is the program that you surf the web with, essentially instructing websites how to appear on your screen. A search engine (like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo) is the service you use to look up information.
Put it this way: Safari is the car, and Google is the GPS guiding you somewhere. (nordvpn.com, discussions.apple.com)
Talking about fun or quirky uses of real search engines.
How Come Some People Speak of Safari as a Search Engine?
Because Safari boasts a built-in search bar that most users find themselves using each day. It feels as though they are “searching” through Safari–but, in reality, these searches go through whichever engine Safari is set to use (in most cases, Google).
How Does the Pair Safari-Search Engine Work?
Google is the default option currently used by Safari for searches, thanks to Apple having forged a lucrative deal with Google. Still, if you’d need to change that setting, you’d go into Safari’s Settings → Search Engine to select Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia (discussions.apple.com).
Is Safari Losing Its Search Share?
Interesting amounts of something relating to said search volume in Safari are dropping, maybe some people getting into AI-based searches of some kind. That signals evolving searches and competition still hardening. (theverge.com)
Should You Consider Changing Your Default Search in Safari?
If you care about privacy, this is just a matter of going into your settings, changing DuckDuckGo or Ecosia, and leaving it until it’s best for you. One quick tweak that matters.(intego.com)
Expert Insight
“Firefox and Safari both use Google by default because Google pays them millions and for Apple, that number hit $20 billion in 2022.”-Reddit user explaining browser vs. search engine partnerships.(reddit.com)
FAQ Quick&Clear
Q: Is Safari a search engine?
A: No! It’s a browser that uses a search engine behind the scenes.
Q: Can I switch the default for real?
A: Absolutely just go to Settings → Safari → Search Engine, and pick your favorite.
Q: What search engines can I use?
A: Google, Bing, Yahoo!, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia and more depending on versions of the OS.
Q: Will changing the default search engine affect speed?
A: Not really. Mostly affects privacy and search results, not browsing speed.
Q: So why’s Safari defaulting to Google?
A: Google is basically handing Apple billions of dollars to keep being the default search engine in Safari thus strengthening Google’s dominance.(reddit.com, discussions.apple.com)
Conclusion
Safari isn’t a search engine but the slick browser that happily houses your favorite one-It’s like a window to the web with the engine doing the heavy lifting. If you’re really curious about better privacy or different search results, change it with just a couple of taps. A small tweak that will refresh your life!
Also Read: Google Batman Easter Eggs
Ever wonder why Safari behaves the way it does? Or curious about AI-powered search replacements? Drop a comment. I will gladly discuss!