Google Trends is a data analysis tool developed by Google that tracks the popularity of search queries across the internet over time. Launched in 2006, Google Trends allows users to analyze real-time and historical search data to identify trending topics, popular keywords, and search patterns. It provides insights into the relative volume of searches for specific terms, geographical distribution, and related search topics, making it a valuable tool for researchers, marketers, journalists, and general users interested in understanding public interest and behavior trends.

Users can access Google Trends to explore a wide range of topics, such as current events, political developments, cultural phenomena, consumer behavior, and more. The platform offers data visualization tools, such as line graphs, bar charts, and geographical heat maps, to represent search interest patterns effectively. It supports comparisons between search terms, enabling users to gauge which terms have generated more interest over specific periods or in specific locations.

Google Trends has become an essential resource for news organizations, marketers, and social media analysts looking to understand what topics are gaining traction among the public. It has been used for election predictions, product launch planning, and analyzing public sentiment during significant global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and geopolitical developments. In addition to global trends, Google Trends also provides regional insights, helping users understand local search behaviors.

As Google Trends only shows relative search interest rather than absolute numbers, it provides a scalable view of search data. The tool's data accuracy is considered high, as it aggregates search queries from a massive user base while maintaining user privacy.

In recent years, Google Trends has become a useful tool for fact-checkers, enabling them to track the spread of misinformation by observing spikes in specific search queries related to misleading claims or viral rumors.