- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 27 Sep 2025 03:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Google doodle today: Internet users worldwide were in for a surprise this Saturday when Google rolled out its very first logo back in 1998 to mark its 27th birthday. Google's homepage featured an old Google Doodle, reminding users of the early days of the internet.
Throwback To First Logo
The homepage had the retro, colorful lettering from the year Google was founded, bringing users back to the late 1990s immediately. The vintage look has appeared in several nations such as India, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Thailand.
Google indicates that the Doodle is not only a design option, it is a reminder of where the journey started. "This Doodle artwork displays Google's first-ever logo (designed in 1998). Let this retro logo take you back to the '90s," the company stated.
Although Google was legally incorporated on September 4, 1998, the organisation later moved its anniversary to September 27. The move was attributed to one of its earliest Doodles, which fell on that day. September 27 has since been commemorated as the date when the organization takes a moment to reflect on its development.
For the initial seven years, the birthday was celebrated on September 4, but as Google grew, the 27th became recognised as its actual anniversary.
From Garage Project To Tech Powerhouse
Founded by students at Stanford University, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google began its life as a research project with the aim of making the World Wide Web more accessible. The entrepreneurs worked out of a garage in Menlo Park, California, with a goal of "organise the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful."
In 27 years, that dream has grown into a worldwide business. Today, as a subsidiary of parent company Alphabet Inc., Google has businesses in many categories, ranging from search to cloud computing, Android, YouTube, online advertising, consumer tech, and artificial intelligence.
CEO Sundar Pichai now heads the company's expansion into innovative spaces like quantum computing, e-commerce, and machine learning, continuing the tradition of innovation.
The Evolution of Doodles
Google's Doodles are cultural signifiers in themselves. The first Doodle was created in 1998 when the founders inserted a stick figure logo to indicate that they were at the Burning Man festival.
Since then, Doodles have commemorated scientists, artists, festivals, sports events, and milestones with innovative animations and interactive graphics. They are now a means through which Google can engage with world audiences and commemorate moments of cultural importance.
This year's Doodle, however, steps back in time. By bringing back the original logo, Google not only celebrates its birthday but is also thankful to its billions of users for being a part of it.
Google India posted the throwback on social media site X, "27 years later, still curious, still searching. Wishing Google a happy 27th birthday with today's Doodle." The tweet also included side-by-side photos of the 1998 homepage and the current interface. For some, the retro logo brought back memories of the beginnings of internet surfing, dial-up, and easier times online.
Even as it commemorates its history, Google is resolutely committed to the future. From Gmail and Google Photos to sophisticated AI tools such as Gemini, the corporation continues to define how users engage with technology.
As the Doodle description itself points out, users are asked to revisit 1998 but also look ahead to the future. In its 27th year, Google is "still searching" and still defining the digital age.