Original announcement: · Reporting prepared on the publication date above.
What to know
- New Google documentation clarifies how Search referrals appear in HTTP logs and why a referrer is not a complete analytics report.
A small header with useful context
Google added documentation on November 12 about identifying Search traffic using the HTTP Referer header. Google Search uses an origin referrer policy, so the header generally contains the scheme and host, not the query text or full results-page URL.
What a site owner can measure
Compare server logs with Search Console and your analytics tool to investigate a traffic change. Normalize hosts, account for missing headers and avoid treating every request with a Google referrer as a verified human visit. Bots, privacy settings and redirects can alter what your logs show.
If you manage your own web server, keep a sensible log-retention policy and watch for response errors on high-value landing pages. A fast, available page matters more than a referrer chart by itself.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources supporting this article. The practical recommendations are Kiava’s general guidance and should be adapted to your project.
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