The Google Search Appliance (GSA) was a hardware device designed to provide search capabilities for businesses and organizations. It allowed users to index and search their internal documents, websites, and databases, making it easier to find information quickly. The GSA utilized Google's search technology to deliver relevant results, similar to the way the public Google Search engine operates. Introduced in 2002, the GSA was popular among enterprises looking to enhance their information retrieval systems. However, it was officially discontinued in 2018, with Google encouraging users to transition to cloud-based solutions like Google Cloud Search for their search needs.