Google Lens / Visual Search

ia-seo intermediate

Definition

Google's visual search technology enabling users to search for information from an image or smartphone camera.

Google Lens is Google's visual search technology that allows users to search for information by taking a photo or using an existing image. Google Lens processes billions of visual queries per month and is integrated into Google Search, Chrome, the Google app, and Android. For SEO, optimizing for visual search includes: descriptive alt text, high-quality images, optimized file names, ImageObject and Product structured data, and a presence in Google Merchant Center for e-commerce products.

Google Lens Visual Search Image search Search by photo

Key Points

  • Billions of visual queries per month
  • Alt text, image quality, and structured data are essential
  • Growing integration with multimodal AI functions

Practical Examples

Visual product search

A user photographs a product with Google Lens and gets links to sites selling it, including those well-optimized with quality product images and structured data.

Circle to Search

On Android, a user circles an on-screen element to launch a visual search, finding information from sites with well-optimized images.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use high-quality images with descriptive alt text, explicit file names, ImageObject/Product structured data, and ensure your images are accessible to Googlebot.

Very important. Google Lens allows users to find and buy products from a photo. E-commerce sites with optimized product images and Product structured data are favored.

Go Further with LemmiLink

Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.

Last updated: 2026-02-07