Database search

A database search is a structured query formulated and executed within one or more literature databases to identify studies relevant to a specific information need. Effective searching requires adapting the query to the unique functionality and syntax of each database. Most databases support searching using both subject headings and free-text words. Complex searches can be constructed using various techniques, including word truncation, phrase searches, word adjacency, date or publication-type limits, and Boolean terns (‘AND’, ‘OR’, etc.) to combine different concepts.