Google uses complex algorithms for retrieving data from its own search index and immediately deliver the possible results for any query. A combination of numerous ranking signals and algorithms for delivering webpages ranked as per relevance on its SERPs. 

In the early years, Google Algorithms Updates made a remarkable handful update. These days, Google makes several changes every year. Generally, these updates go unnoticed most of the time. However, the search engine results in great algorithmic updates that impact the SERPs. 

Google Algorithm Updates that rolled out over many years and causes an impact to the most important SERPs such as Intrusive Interstitials Update, Fred, Mobilegeddon, Panda, RankBrain, Pigeon, Humminbird, Payday, Exact Match Domain. Below I have made a list of complete Google algorithm, refreshes, and updates which would be beneficial for the SEOs.

  • June 2019 Core Update

On 2nd June, Google’s employee Danny Sullivan tweeted that Google would release a new core algorithm update on 3rd June. The very next day, Google accepted that the update would be spreading quickly to its multiple data centers in the upcoming days. A core update will fix a wide range of factors.

  • March 2019 Core Update

After confirmation of exactly one year of Google’s first official core updates, it released another update to bring changes to its algorithm on 12th March 2019. It is to note that Google confirmed the update without naming it. As a result, it was referred by various aliases. The two common names are Florida 2 Update and Google 3/12 Broad Core Update.

  • Valentine’s day Update

Some unconfirmed updates took place on February 13, 2019, or before as indicated by industry chatter and algorithm trackers. Mostly there were positive changes in the rankings as reported.

  • Small Update

A minor update took place on September 27, 2018, but not a major one. It was all about industry chatter about what Google was making changes to its algorithm.

  • Broad Core Algorithm Update

 On August 1, 2018, Google updated the Broad Core algorithm following the recommendations and guidance it provided on March 9, 2018 update. It was basically a general ranking update not focussing on the medical sites. It also explained the reasons for the high fluctuations level. Earlier to this on April 16, 2018, and March 9, 2018 updates were done to Broad Core Algorithm to control rank fluctuation on both mobile and desktop. 

  • Quality Update

It is also known as Hawk Update. SEO and Webmasters found out minor changes on August 19 to 20, 2017 but was unconfirmed regarding the update. Glenn Gabe stated that Google started testing this algorithm from August 14. But due to some impact on pages either positive or negative, the update got released finally on August 19. Also, earlier Quality Update brought changes on July 9, June 25, May 17 of the aforesaid year. But the outcome improved by the latest update which took place on August 19. 

  • Fred

The latest Fred Update took place on March 9, 2017. This update was as a result of the increase in chatter with the trends displaying on the Rank Risk Index. The second phase of Fred brought changes between March 13-14. It targeted mainly on websites concentrating on advertising excessively to generate revenues but providing poor and inferior content. Basically, it targeted low-value content.

  • Penguin Update

 Penguin had many updates that were held on May 25, 2012, named as Penguin 2, Penguin 2.1 on October 4, 2013. On April 24, 2012, named as Penguin Update 3 on October 05, October 18, 2012, December 11, 2014, as Penguin 3.0, as Penguin Update 4 on May 22, 2013, as Penguin 2.1 as on October 04, 2013. 

But the latest Penguin Update 4.0 and Core Algorithm Integration took place on September 23, 2016, gave enormous results. You can see new changes such as Penguin evaluating links and websites in real-time. Penguins can devalue links instead of downgrading page rankings.

  • Panda Update

Panda Core Algorithms Incorporation was updated on January 11, 2016, after the rollout of Panda 4.2. The 4.1 version which was released on September 23, 2014, was meant for identifying low-quality content precisely. Prior to this Panda Update was initialized on March 14, 2013. 

On January 22, 2013, the Panda update affected 1.2% of English queries and the number before was 1.3% as per the update on December 21, 2012. 

0.8% on November 21, 2012 update, 

0.4% on November 21, 2012 update,

0.4% on November 5, 2012, 

2.4% on September 27, 2012 update, 

0.7% on September 18, 2012 update

Updates:

 3.9.2 on August 20, 2019 solving only 1% of queries, 

 3.9 on July 24, 2012 solving 1% of search results, 

 3.8 released on June 25, 2012, impacting 1% queries worldwide, 

 3.7 impacting less than 1% the US queries and 1% of global queries released on June 8, 2012

 3.6 was refreshed by Google on April 27, 2012,

 3.5 got refreshed on April 19, 2012, 

 3.4 impacting 1.6% queries got released on March 23, 2012,

 3.3 released on February 27, 2012, 

 3.2 on January 18, 2012, 

 3.1 on November 18, 2011, impacting less than 1% searches, 

3.0 on October 19, 2011, to see how the algorithm affected the websites.

More updates were released on september 28, 2011-update 2.5, August 12, 2011- update 2.4, July 23, 2011-update 2.3, June 21, 2011- update 2.2, May 9, 2011- update 2.1, April 11, 2011- update 2.0 and the original panda update on February 23, 2011.

  • Mobile-Friendly Update

This update was made to increase the signal ranking effect on May 12, 2016.  Basically, this was meant as an update to Google’s firstly launched mobile-friendly update which was launched on April 21, 2015. It was initially launched with an idea to reward the mobile-friendly sites with goods search rankings. Hence, providing better results for searchers on mobile devices. 

  • RankBrain

It was tested since April 2015 and finally got released on October 26, 2015. RankBrain is an AI algorithm that is capable of filtering search results helping users in giving the best results to their queries. It was used for near about 15% of queries. But now it is almost used in every Google query. In addition, it is considered as the third most crucial ranking signal.  

  • Humming Bird Update

Actually, this update started functioning in August 2013 but got released on September 26, 2013. As per Google, it affected 90% of global searches. Its main focus was to provide relevant results to more complex queries.  

  • Exact Match Domain Update

On September 28, 2012, Google updated the Exact Match Domain (EMD) algorithm focussing on ridding SERPs of spams or exact match domains of low-quality. 

  • Florida Update

On November 16, 2003, Florida came up with an update that rattled the SEO world. Search Engine Watch delivers helpful Q&A to the Florida update. The Web Workshop adds theories to what happened and answers them accordingly.   

  • Payday Loan Update

It was an international update on June 11, 2013,  focussing on spam such as payday loans and porn addressing the PayDay aspect. Additionally, this can result in a website’s ranking on the perception of Panda to improve the quality of the site’s content.

Further payday Loan was updated with the 2.0 version on May 18, 2014. This update will affect different languages specifically queries on English by about 0.2%. Version 3.0 released on June 12, 2014, aimed at casinos, payday loans, accident claims and other varieties returning excessive web spam results.

Ending Note

I hope by now, you got the necessary details about the history of the Google Algorithm Updates. 2018 Google reported about 3,234 updates which are almost 8 times the number in 2009. Most of these updates are minor. Generally, Google rolls out major updates occasionally. All these affect the search results in a proper way.