Within the context of library research, a database is a computerized index of information, including references to periodical articles on specific topics. If you need to find nursing resources but are unwittingly searching an education database, you've wasted a lot of time and energy. Be sure that the database you're searching covers your topic, and indexes the types of materials that you need.
Every database comes with some sort of online help for the beginning searcher.
Read screens carefully for buttons or menu choices that offer assistance. In searching a database, it is important to first select your primary concepts, and then link your search terms so that you retrieve the precise information that you want. This is done by typing connector or Boolean terms. To search for synonyms, separate each word with or and place parenthesis around the statement.