Google's First 15 Years, by the Numbers

A little-known startup called Google first launched to change the world 15 years ago today — give or take a few days.

The exact date of Google's launch is a little unclear, as the company has celebrated its birthday on several different dates over the years. Technically, the company registered the Google.com domain on Sept. 15, 1997 — more than 16 years ago — and filed to be incorporated on Sept. 4, 1998. Whatever the case, Google says it is officially celebrating its 15th birthday on Friday.

In honor of Google's special day, we've pulled together 15 stats showing just how much the company and its products have grown in its first 15 years. Read more...