Web of Science

Web of Science (WoS) is a multidisciplinary citation database that supports structured search queries with field tags and Boolean operators.

Run a Query

Queries in Web of Science can be constructed using:

When working with search-query, we recommend copying the Advanced search query string directly for use as the search_string.

Web of Science supports structured queries using field tags such as TS= (Topic), TI= (Title), AB= (Abstract), AU= (Author), etc.

Tip

Include field tags explicitly in the search_string. Leave the general_field empty.

Store a Query

When storing a Web of Science query:

  • Use the Advanced search query string as the search_string.

  • Leave the general_field empty unless all terms share the same field tag.

Example:

(TS="digital health") AND (TS="privacy")

List Query Format

Web of Science allows users to construct complex queries by combining previously defined search sets using numbered references (e.g., #1 AND #2). This list-based approach is commonly used in systematic searches where multiple search lines are logically combined.

Such list queries are supported by the search-query parsers and allow referencing earlier statements using # followed by the search line number.

List queries should be formatted as follows:

{
    "search_string": "1. TS=(digital health OR telemedicine)\n2. TS=(physical activity OR exercise)\n3. #1 AND #2",
    "general_field": ""
}

Each numbered line represents an individual query component, and later lines can combine previous results using logical operators like AND, OR, or NOT.

Best Practices and Recommendations

  • Prefer Advanced Search for reproducible and structured queries.

  • Use explicit field tags (TS=, TI=, AB=, etc.) instead of relying on default fields.

Resources

Note

Field tags on this page are outdated (e.g., “DI” no longer works).