## 1.3 : Databases

Databases are like scuba diving: they let you get deeper
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A database contains bibliographic references and it may include the electronic version of scientific publications, frequently journal articles.

Types of databases:

- Bibliographic databases: contain some bibliographic references, whether or not supplemented with a summary. Some bibliographic databases provide a link to the electronic version located elsewhere on the internet.

- Full-text databases: contain not only the bibliographic references, but also the complete electronic versions. Often the full text is fully searchable. Some full-text databases contain only an archive collection (i.e. from the oldest volume, but not the newest volumes), others contain the newest volumes (e.g. from 2006–present).

- Citation databases: contain not only the bibliographic reference, but also the link to the citations (other publications that cite this reference in the footnotes).

Database examples:

- ScienceDirect (bibliographic and full-text database)
- Google Scholar (bibliographic database and scientific search engine, see module 3.6.2)
- Web of Science (bibliographic database and citation database)