Introduction
If you ever spent hours scraping Google, tracking rankings, or tweaking SEO tools until your coffee went cold, you probably bumped into the Google &num= parameter at some point. Maybe you even cursed at it once or twice (I’ll be honest—I did).
And now that Google keeps changing how the SERP works, you may wonder: “Does the &num= parameter even matter anymore?”
Short answer: Yes, it still matters.
Long answer: Well… that’s exactly what we’re diving into here.
Let me walk you through why this tiny piece of URL magic still plays a surprisingly big role, why SEOs still care, and what you should do if Google ever fully removes it. Trust me, you’ll want to stick around for this one. 🙂
What the Google &num= Parameter Actually Does
The Simple Version (Because Who Needs More Confusion?)
The Google &num= parameter controls how many organic results appear on a Google search page.
Example:
&num=100
…tells Google to display up to 100 results on a single page.
Back in the day, SEOs used this constantly. Why? Because we loved stuffing as many URLs as possible into one SERP view—kind of like loading your entire fridge onto one shelf. Practical? Not really. Efficient? Absolutely.
Ever wondered why &num=100 mattered so much? Because tools and scrapers relied on long SERP lists to:
- Track rankings faster
- Reduce pagination errors
- Speed up scraping
- Avoid missing URLs due to blended SERP quirks
Basically, the &num parameter acted like a cheat code for efficiency.
Why SEOs Still Care About the &num=100 Search Parameter
1. It Improves Rank-Tracking Accuracy
Whenever tools analyze search results, they use the &num parameter to load more results at once.
With &num=100, tools minimize:
- Page loading delays
- Skipped results
- Inconsistent SERP snapshots
If you’re tracking hundreds of keywords, that matters.
Ever tried tracking rankings with &num=10?
It feels like scrolling Instagram but only seeing one post every 5 minutes. You’ll lose your mind fast.
2. It Reduces the Risk of Getting Blocked
More SERP results per request = fewer total requests = less chance of triggering Google’s “Hmm this looks like a bot” alarm.
SEO tools scrape Google constantly (seriously—more than you want to know). So anything that reduces request volume helps.
3. It Helps With SERP Stability
Google sometimes experiments with layout changes, infinite scroll, and weird UI updates.
But the &num=100 search parameter acts like a stabilizer. It tells Google:
“Give me the full list, and stop messing around.”
When you scrape results or analyze SERP patterns, stability is pure gold.
How Google SERP Length Changes Affect the &num Parameter
When Google Shifted to Infinite Scroll
Remember when Google replaced classic pagination with infinite scroll?
Everyone panicked—myself included. I thought my rank-tracking setup was about to collapse like a Jenga tower.
Here’s what actually happened:
- Infinite scroll loads ~10–20 results at a time.
- Tools relying on &num=100 suddenly saw inconsistent data.
- Some SERPs stopped honoring &num entirely.
Did everything break? Thankfully, no.
But we definitely had a few “Google, why do you hate us?” moments.
Why Infinite Scroll Doesn’t Completely Kill &num=100
Google rolled out infinite scroll primarily for UX, not to punish SEOs (at least that’s what I tell myself).
On desktop, many regions still allow &num=100.
On mobile, it’s hit-and-miss.
Google’s own documentation still references the parameter in some help pages—so even if it’s “deprecated,” it’s not completely dead.
How SEO Tools Still Use the Google Pagination &num Issue to Their Advantage
You might think SEO tools gave up on the &num parameter once Google changed pagination.
Nope. They adapted like champions.
Here’s how:
1. They Detect Whether &num= works per region
Some countries still support &num=100 fully.
Tools simply test before scraping.
2. They Mix &num Requests With HTML Rendering
If &num breaks, they fall back to infinite-scroll simulation.
Smart? Absolutely.
3. They Use &num= to Filter API Requests
Whenever possible, tools combine &num=100 with proxy rotation to minimize load.
4. They Use It to Normalize SERP Length
SERPs vary by query.
So tools use &num= to get consistent output formats.
Consistency = accuracy, and that’s everything in rank tracking.
Impact of &num Deprecation on Rank Tracking
Let’s be real: if Google fully removed the &num parameter tomorrow, SEOs would collectively scream into the void.
Why? Because rank tracking would instantly become more annoying.
If &num= goes extinct, here’s what breaks first:
1. Data Consistency
Tools would need to handle:
- Variable SERP lengths
- More requests
- More pagination errors
2. Historical Comparisons
Data formats change → charts break → reports look weird → clients panic.
(Trust me, no one wants a client emailing “Why does everything look different??”)
3. Speed of Scraping
Instead of loading 100 results once, tools must load 10 results 10 times.
That’s like watching Netflix but stopping to buffer every 8 minutes.
4. Proxy Load
More requests = more proxies = more cost for SEO tools.
And guess who eventually pays? Yep—you.
How to Adapt to Google &num Removal (If It Ever Happens)
Alright, let’s say Google wakes up one day and says:
“&num parameter? Never heard of her.”
Here’s how you prepare—without losing your sanity.
1. Use Tools That Support Infinite-Scroll Scraping
Tools like:
- SERP API
- Bright Data
- ZenSERP
- ScraperAPI
…already simulate infinite scroll.
If you rely on custom scripts, you may want to modernize now.
2. Switch to API-Based Rank Tracking
APIs don’t depend on browser-based rendering.
They bypass Google layout changes entirely.
Think of APIs as the “I’m too old for this drama” option.
3. Expect Price Changes From Rank Trackers
If scraping becomes harder, tools will raise prices.
Not today. Not tomorrow.
But someday. (FYI… prepare your wallet IMO 🙂 )
4. Stop Depending on &num for Competitor Research
If you analyze the top 100 results manually, try these alternatives:
- Use Google Trends
- Use Ahrefs’ SERP overview
- Use SEMrush SERP Analysis
- Use manual exports from Google Sheets add-ons
They won’t break when &num breaks.
Why the &num Parameter Still Matters More Than People Think
It’s easy to look at this tiny parameter and think:
“Who cares? It’s just one little query string.”
But here’s why SEOs still care deeply:
1. It Gives You Control
The &num parameter lets you shape how Google loads results.
More control = better analysis.
2. It Makes Audits Faster
Imagine loading 100 results in one page instead of clicking 10 times.
Your productivity skyrockets.
3. It Supports Bulk Competitor Analysis
When you’re checking:
- Link patterns
- SERP volatility
- Keyword difficulty
- Search intent variations
…having 100 results in one place is a gift.
4. It Helps Maintain Data Hygiene
SEO isn’t just ranking.
It’s data management, pattern recognition, and (sometimes) mild chaos control.
&num= has always served as a stabilizer in that chaos.
Real Talk: Will Google Ever Kill It Completely?
Here’s my honest take:
Google might eventually remove the &num= parameter from all regions, but not soon.
Why?
- Many internal systems still depend on it
- Google’s documentation still mentions it
- Removing it breaks developer workflows
- SEOs aren’t the only ones using it
- Some regulatory regions require transparent pagination
Will it fade? Probably.
Will it vanish tomorrow? Highly unlikely.
And if Google removes it fully, tools will adapt.
SEOs always find a way. (We’re basically the cockroaches of the digital world—hard to kill, always evolving. No offense to SEOs, of course.)
Conclusion
The Google &num= parameter may look small, outdated, or unnecessary, but it still plays a huge role in SEO workflows—from scraping to rank tracking to data consistency.
Even if Google shifts toward infinite scroll or changes SERP length again, the &num=100 search parameter remains one of the cleanest ways to control result output and maintain accurate ranking data.
Will it disappear someday? Maybe.
Should you panic? Nope.
Just stay adaptable, keep using tools that support both pagination and infinite scroll, and—most importantly—don’t rely on any one Google feature like it’s permanent.
Because if there’s one thing SEOs know, it’s this:
Google changes the rules whenever it feels like it. :/
