Google’s online advertising program was called Google AdWords before it was renamed Google Ads in 2018.
Google launched AdWords in 2000, initially selling text advertisements that appeared beside search results. Advertisers could choose keywords and set budgets, while Google’s system displayed ads based on relevance and bids. The service later expanded to include display, video, shopping and app advertising.
Google changed the name to Google Ads in July 2018 to reflect that advertising was no longer limited to words in search results. Google AdSense is a different program: it lets website publishers display ads supplied through Google’s advertising network.