Description: Web of Science is an online subscription-based scientific citation indexing service that provides access to a vast database of academic literature. This resource is essential for researchers, academics, and students as it allows for the search and analysis of scientific articles, conference proceedings, and other types of publications. Web of Science includes multiple databases covering various disciplines, facilitating the identification of research trends, the evaluation of publication impact, and the connection between different areas of knowledge. Its intuitive interface and analytical tools enable users to perform advanced searches, manage references, and access citation metrics, making it an essential tool for academic and scientific research. Additionally, its ability to track citations and references between articles helps researchers situate their work within the broader context of existing literature, thereby promoting collaboration and the advancement of knowledge across various disciplines.
History: Web of Science was originally developed by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) in 1960. Over the years, it has evolved significantly, especially after its acquisition by Thomson Reuters in 1992. In 2016, Clarivate Analytics separated from Thomson Reuters and took control of Web of Science, continuing its development and expansion. The platform has incorporated new databases and analytical tools, adapting to the changing needs of the scientific community.
Uses: Web of Science is primarily used for searching scientific literature, citation analysis, and evaluating research impact. Researchers use it to identify relevant articles in their field, track research trends, and assess the quality of publications. It is also a valuable tool for reference management and bibliography creation.
Examples: An example of using Web of Science in bioinformatics is searching for articles on sequence alignment algorithms, where researchers can analyze citations and references to identify the most influential works in the field. Another example is using citation metrics to assess the relevance of a specific article in the context of genomic research.
