Instagram's website just got a lot more useful.
The app's newly overhauled search, which makes it much easier to search for specific accounts, hashtags and locations, rolled out to Instagram.com Monday.
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The update marks the first time the company has added search features to it website. Like the in-app search, Instagram's web-based browsing allows you to search for posts based on hashtags, location or from specific accounts. Searching for hashtags from the search bar will also give you a quick overview of how many times that particular hashtag has been used.
On posts that users see on the web -- either on Instagram.com or embedded on other sites -- links to hashtags and location geotags will redirect to a page that shows the top posts for those tags, based on the number of likes.
Instagram's website is still not as full-featured as the app as the Explore tab and the ability to post photos still only live in the app. But by adding search, the company is making it much easier to find posts. Previously, the only way to find a specific post on Instagram.com was via direct link or from a user's feed or browsing pages for hashtags, though there are some third-party web apps that aim to create a more robust Instagram experience.
The company says the update is meant to both bring Instagram's website more in line with its app and make it easier for those who see Instagram posts on the web to discover and browse photos. Embedded Instagram posts created more than 5.3 billion impressions in the month of June alone, the company says, so giving users more ways to find new content stands to increase engagement with the website.