Query Deserves Freshness (QDF) is a component of Google’s ranking algorithm that temporarily boosts recently published content for queries where freshness is a strong user expectation. It was described publicly by Google’s Amit Singhal in 2007. QDF activates when Google detects a spike in search volume around a topic — indicating a breaking news event, product launch, or seasonal moment — and temporarily promotes newer documents over older established ones. Once the search interest spike subsides, rankings typically return to their previous state. Practically, this means well-optimised, authoritative sites can outrank older competitors briefly for trending queries simply by publishing quickly. QDF also explains why evergreen articles may drop in rankings when a topic flares up, then recover afterwards.