Alphabet owns Google Search and YouTube, making it one of the world’s most valuable businesses by market capitalization.
Alphabet was created in 2015 as Google’s parent company. Google’s internet products became one part of the wider group, while other activities, such as certain research and investment projects, were organized separately under Alphabet.
Google Search remains the company’s signature service, while YouTube is a major video platform acquired by Google in 2006. Alphabet also owns businesses connected with Android, Chrome, Google Cloud, and advertising technology. These operations help explain why investors value Alphabet far beyond the search website alone.
A common mistake is answering “Google.” Google is the principal subsidiary and familiar consumer brand, but Alphabet is the legal parent company whose shares trade publicly and whose market capitalization is commonly reported.