refbase – multi-user interface for managing scientific literature & citations

Last Updated on November 9, 2025

refbase is a web-based solution institutional repository and reference management software for managing scientific literature, references and citations. It can import and export references in various formats (including BibTeX, Endnote, MODS XML, and OpenOffice). It can make formatted lists of citations and offers powerful searching, rich metadata, and RSS.

The application can import and export a variety of standard bibliographic formats, including BibTeX, Endnote, RIS, ISI, MODS XML, PubMed, Medline, RefWorks, and Copac. It can generate formatted bibliographies and citations in LaTeX, RTF, HTML, and PDF. refbase also has advanced search features and can generate RSS feeds from searches. Links using DOIs and URLs can be added, as can links to files. refbase supports the Search/Retrieve via URL (SRU) and OpenSearch web services as well as COinS and unAPI metadata.

refbase is licensed under the GPL and uses a MySQL backend.

Features include:

• Clean and standardized interface that attempts to be as web standards compliant as possible.
• Multitude of search options, including quick, simple, advanced as well as powerful SQL search options.
• Various display options:
  • list view: offers customizable and sortable columns.
  • details view: shows all fields of a particular record.
  • cite view: displays record entries in a citation style chosen by the user.
  • print view: eases printing or copying of records.
• Search within results functionality which provides an easy way of refining your search query.
• User-specific fields for personal keywords, notes, etc.
• Save any search query together with the current display settings.
• Automatic email announcements for newly added records.
• Dynamic RSS feeds for recently added/edited records as well as for any custom user query.
• Export records to MODS XML, Endnote, RIS or BibTeX (via bibutils).
• Link records to other records in the database (using static or dynamic links).
• Extract literature cited within a text and build an appropriate reference list.

Website: www.refbase.net
Support: Documentation
Developer: refbase development team
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

refbase is written in PHP. Learn PHP with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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