Google is a multinational technology company founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. Originally starting as a search engine, Google has grown into one of the most influential tech companies in the world. Here are some key aspects of Google:

1. Search Engine: Google's search engine is its most well-known product. It revolutionized the way people find information online with its algorithm that ranks web pages based on relevance and quality.
2. Advertising: Google’s revenue primarily comes from advertising through platforms like Google Ads (formerly AdWords) and Google AdSense. These services allow businesses to target users with relevant ads based on their search queries and online behavior.
3. Products and Services: Beyond search, Google offers a wide range of products and services, including Gmail (email), Google Drive (cloud storage), Google Maps (navigation), Google Photos (photo storage and sharing), and Google Chrome (web browser). They also provide a suite of productivity tools known as Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), which includes Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
4. Operating Systems: Google developed the Android operating system for mobile devices, which is one of the most widely used OSes globally. They also have Chrome OS, a lightweight operating system for Chromebooks.
5. Hardware: Google has ventured into hardware with products like the Google Pixel smartphones, Google Nest smart home devices, and Google Chromecast, a device for streaming media.
6. Cloud Computing: Google Cloud offers computing services for businesses, including data storage, machine learning, and scalable infrastructure.
7. Acquisitions: Google has acquired numerous companies over the years, including YouTube (2006), Android Inc. (2005), and more recently Fitbit (2021), expanding its reach into various tech domains.
8. Innovation and Research: Google is known for its innovation in various fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), self-driving cars through its Waymo division, and quantum computing.
9. Corporate Structure: In 2015, Google underwent a major restructuring and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., a new parent company that also oversees other businesses and investments outside Google's core operations.

Google’s mission is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” and it continues to impact many aspects of modern life through its diverse array of products and services.