Last week, Google officially eliminated the cache link from Google Search results and confirmed that the cache functionality will soon be removed from the database. The decision to retire the cache link was announced by Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison. The removal of the cache link was first reported on January 25th by the Search Engine Roundtable. As depicted in the image, the cache link is now completely missing from the search results page.
Currently, the cache link still works for some server users when using the syntax [cache:domain.com]. However, Google has also indicated that this functionality will be retired in the near future. According to Sullivan, Google will respect the “noarchive” tag for articles that have been saved as “noarchive.” He also suggested the usage of the Wayback Machine as an alternative to accessing archived pages of a site. Additionally, Sullivan expressed a personal interest in seeing Google add links to the Wayback Machine within the “About This Result” section, allowing users to view how a website has evolved over time.
Sullivan acknowledged that the removal of the cache link may impact SEO professionals and researchers who have relied on it over the years. However, he emphasized the availability of the Wayback Machine as a free and valuable tool for accessing historical versions of specific URLs, signaling the need for alternative methods for accessing cached content.