What it is

Search by Image is an open-source JavaScript browser extension released under the GNU General Public License v3.0. It lives in the productivity and browser-extension ecosystem, where it provides reverse image search from Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox according to the project metadata. The extension addresses a concrete verification problem: users need to determine where an image came from, whether it is duplicated, or whether it is used misleadingly on social media. Instead of copying image URLs or downloading files, users can search with the image directly from the browser.

The project also serves discovery tasks. Photographers can explore how their work is shared online, shoppers can look for similar products at discounted prices, and journalists or researchers can check image authenticity. The README states that more than thirty search engines are supported.

Key capabilities

• The extension supports more than thirty reverse image search engines, and users can toggle and reorder them from the options page.
• It detects images positioned at a selected area regardless of how those images were embedded in a page.
• It provides Select URL, Select image, Capture, Browse, and URL modes, covering image addresses, local files, page regions, device images, and clipboard pasting.
• It supports private sites and sites that block direct image linking by allowing searches with the actual image file.
• It allows the search mode to be set independently for the context menu and the browser toolbar.

Who uses it and how

• Journalists and researchers use it to verify image authenticity and identify false information circulating on social media.
• Photographers use it to explore how their work appears elsewhere on the web.
• Shoppers use it to find similar products and compare discounted prices.
• Browser users invoke searches from the context menu or toolbar while viewing a page, using URL-based, file-based, capture-based, or device-based workflows.

Getting started

The extension is available for Chrome, Edge, and Safari, with a Safari listing linked from the project homepage. After installation, users choose search engines and search modes in the options page, then run searches from the context menu or toolbar.

When to use it — and when not to

Use Search by Image when the task is quick reverse image lookup inside a browser, especially when multiple search engines or several image input methods are needed. It is not suitable for workflows that require a standalone desktop application, an API, or a hosted service, because the project describes only a browser extension. The project has seventy-seven open issues, so users should expect that some browser or engine behavior may require troubleshooting or updates.

    </br>