New Creative Commons Search Tool Provides Access to 300 Million Images

CC Search

A new CC Search tool allows users to find and use some 300 million images from openly licensed and public domain works. Developed by Creative Commons and a community of volunteer developers, the resource came out of beta testing this week.

The search function provides a single place to look for images from 19 collections, including Flickr (which is currently the source for the bulk of the content — some 289 million pictures), Bēhance, Geograph Britain and Ireland and DeviantArt.

CC Search result

While the search currently encompasses only images, the effort will eventually add other media types, such as open texts and audio, later this year. The eventual goal: to allow people to find any of the 1.4 billion Creative Commons-licensed and public domain works on the web through the search page.

Thanks to feedback provided by beta testers, the search page now provides a cleaner design and "better navigation and filters," according to Jane Park, CC's director of product and research, who leads the work for CC Search. Attribution options have been streamlined and "clear channels" have been added for providing feedback on the functionality of the site and specific image reuses.

"Under the hood," she added, search loading time and search phrase relevance have been improved, and analytics have been added "to better understand when and how the tools are used."

According to the CC Search roadmap, later this quarter the search function will sport advanced filters, the ability to browse without entering a search term, improved accessibility and a mobile user experience.

CC Search can be found on the Creative Commons website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • illustration of a human head with a glowing neural network in the brain, connected to tech icons on a cool blue-gray background

    Meta Introduces Stand-Alone AI App

    Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.