Now that Google cache functionality is disappearing, how can you consult web archives?

Google recently removed a useful feature enabling users to access the archives of web pages referenced in its search results. But for anyone whose curiosity is prompting them to do a deep dive or who is simply nostalgic, there are online tools capable of taking them back into the vaults of the web’s archives.

A very useful feature has disappeared from Google Search: the cache link formerly enabled users to access an earlier version – the one saved by the search engine – of pages appearing in the Search results. This could be useful in a number of situations, for instance, when a page was having trouble loading, when a site was temporarily inaccessible or offline or simply for reference, for instance after changing appearance.

Google originally designed the feature to be used when a page didn’t load properly, and since “things have greatly improved” in this regard, the company has decided to abandon the tool, saying it was no longer needed, much to the despair of some internet users who complained on social networks. The deletion of this cache has been taking place progressively over the past few weeks, and Google has confirmed that it is now gone. However, it is still possible to consult the archives via a well-known online service..

Internet Archive is a non-profit organisation, a veritable institution dedicated to archiving the web, that now serves as a veritable digital library. This US-based web archiving and preservation initiative brings together not only snapshots and copies of pages taken at different times, but also images, videos, numerous books and audio recordings, and even software. Its impressive database contains more than 866 billion web pages, 40 million texts and 11 million videos, freely accessible either using a web address or keyword. – AFP Relaxnews