Alphabet changed its corporate name from Google to Alphabet in 2015.
Google announced the restructuring in August 2015, and Alphabet became the holding company for Google and several other businesses. The change separated Google’s core internet products from longer-term or more experimental ventures.
Under the new structure, Google remained the largest operating company and continued to include products such as Search, YouTube, Android, and Google Maps. Alphabet’s other activities have included areas such as life sciences, autonomous vehicles, and investment operations.
A frequent mistake is saying that Google disappeared. Google continued as a subsidiary and retained its familiar brand, while Alphabet became the publicly traded parent company. Alphabet’s shares trade under the symbols GOOGL and GOOG.