Currently, the app activities are limited to Google apps which are YouTube, Spotify and Gmail and will soon be extended to popular apps like LinkedIn and Facebook Messenger.

How does it work?

In the application it is an offline function, since it searches the Android device, and not the Internet or cloud storage. It is similar to Apple’s Spotlight that allows the user to find data directly on the phone. Until now, Google used Firebase App Indexing to help app developers make it easy to search Google for information online and get redirected to the app. This type of search allows the user to view the content of the application directly. With in-app search, the user’s search becomes more focused as they will only find relevant information from the app stored on their device.

We discuss 4 ways Google app search will influence Android app development.

Direct access to the application

When a user enters a relevant search keyword in the in-app search, all the offline data that is stored on their device in the app is displayed in the results. This not only makes the results more concise, but also allows the user to open the app and go directly to the feature they are looking for without making multiple inputs.

Find relevant content where it is stored

Often the content being searched for is stored in mobile apps and the user does not need to perform a web search to find it. In the past, Google created indexing apps for web searches, with In Apps, this feature has been brought to the limited realm of the user’s device. The user can search tasks, messages, media, contacts and other specific information related to the application in one place and get faster results. For example, like the search feature in WhatsApp, if the user is looking for specific information, such as information shared with a friend on Facebook Messenger or a specific passage from a note stored in Evernote, they can find it directly in the app.

Decide which apps In Apps will work on

The user has the option to decide which apps the In App feature will work on. Users also have the option to add which apps they would like the search feature to extend to by turning the various apps on or off in the Google app settings. . Since then, the application will work offline; the user is protected from sharing their data with Google since the private information will not be sent to their server. This gives the user more effective control over their personal data and allows them to decide what information they would like to share and what not. This is crucial especially in the case of sensitive applications like payment gateways, m-commerce apps and banking apps where the user can safely store their finance related details.

Concentrated search efforts

In the past, Google provided a large number of search indexing options that were heavily reliant on the web. With the new in-app search option, they have finally entered a more concentrated search spectrum that gives users more control over data. Currently, In App is only available on specific Android devices, but it will be rolled out on a larger scale soon.

Android developers can reap the benefits of in-app search by integrating this Google device feature into their app directly instead of creating a separate search feature within their apps. this will also create easier access for the user and help the app blend organically with the device.

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