How to run advanced searches on NCBI?

Access the NCBI Website

• Open a web browser and navigate to the NCBI website using the URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

 

• Familiarize yourself with the homepage layout, which includes various resources like PubMed, Nucleotide, and Protein databases.

Select the Appropriate Database

• Identify the database relevant to your research. For instance, use PubMed for biomedical literature or Gene for genetic sequences.

 

• Click on the database name to access its specific search interface.

Utilize the Advanced Search Page

• On the database's search page, locate and click the "Advanced" button to expand the advanced search options.

 

• Use the advanced search builder to construct more precise queries by combining search terms and using field-specific search tags.

Formulate Your Query

• Enter your main search terms in the search boxes, using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine results.

 

• Specify fields for search terms, such as author, article title, or specific organism, using the dropdown menus.

Apply Filters and Limits

• After entering your search terms, apply filters to narrow down results by publication date, article type, text availability, and more.

 

• Use additional limits provided by the database, like date range or language, to further refine the search.

Review and Modify Search Results

• Click "Search" to execute the query, and review the initial results displayed.

 

• If results are not satisfactory, modify the search terms or filters and re-run the search to improve relevancy.

Save and Manage Your Search

• Save search results by selecting individual records or creating a list using the "Send to" option available on the results page.

 

• Consider creating an NCBI account to save searches and set up alerts for new related content.