India, Sept. 27 -- For billions of people, September 27 is simply known as Google's birthday. But the date hides an unusual piece of the company's history. As Google marks its 28th birthday in 2026 with a nostalgic Doodle, the technology giant is celebrating on a date that does not match its official incorporation day.

Google Inc. was incorporated on September 4, 1998, while the company has used September 27 as its birthday for more than two decades. Google itself has acknowledged that the exact date of its founding is not straightforward, but September 27 became the established celebration date after several changes in the company's early years.

The latest Doodle once again brings Google's early history into focus, giving users a look ...