View source for Wikipedia:Advanced source searching

{{notability essay|WP:ASEARCH|WP:ADVANCED|WP:ADVANCEDSOURCE}}
{{nutshell|Advanced source searching can provide more comprehensive search results compared to simpler standard searches.}}
[[File:Hyperlink-internet-search.svg|right|118px]]
'''Advanced source searching''' can provide more comprehensive and accurate search results compared to simpler standard searches, which can be useful for the assessment and determination of [[WP:N|topic notability]]. Customizing searches to narrow results, using other search engines besides Google, and the general customization of search parameters can often provide several and sometimes many additional [[wp:rs|reliable sources]] that are not included in basic searches, such as those using Wikipedia's {{tl|Find sources}} template.

==Search parameters==
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* '''[[Boolean algebra#Boolean searches|Boolean searches]]''' and other custom searches can provide links that are not available in default searches. Simply using '''quotation marks''' in searches (e.g. "Search topic") can significantly narrow search results, whereby only results that have the entire term are generated.
* '''Customizing Google searches''' using the [https://www.google.com main Google page] by simply adding "news"  or "news," (both without quotation marks) and then the search term ''in'' quotation marks often provides more results than using the Google News link in the find sources template. Here's an example: '''news, "Search topic"'''. It's often necessary to view several pages after the first page of search results when using this technique.
* '''[https://www.google.com/advanced_search Google Advanced Search]''' and other such advanced searches in various search engines can help to pinpoint coverage about topics.
* To '''narrow searches''' to specific sites, here's something that works in Google searches (be sure to include the topic in quotation marks): '''"Search topic" site:www.siteexample.com'''  This generates results only from the specified site.
* To '''search within a top-level domain''' or generic top-level domain, a "site" parameter can be added. For example: '''"Search topic" site:*.ro''' lists websites under the .ro generic top-level domain.
* '''Omitting results''' by adding a minus (-) sign and url addresses for unwanted sites can result in higher-relevance hits (or at least higher relevance hits per Wikipedia's notability standards, to omit sites that aren't valid for demonstrating topic notability){{spaced ndash}} e.g. '''"Search topic" <big>-</big>siteexample.com'''.

==More advanced search options==
===Reliable Sources Search Engine===
{{shortcut|WP:RSSE}}
*'''[http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=010426977372765398405:3xxsh-e1cp8&hl=en Reliable Sources Search Engine]''' – a [[Google Programmable Search Engine]] that helps <u>limit search results</u> to those published by reliable sources.

===Search for template===
<div style="float:right">
<center>'''The {{tl|Search for}} template'''</center>
{{Search for expanded|Search topic}}
</div>
* '''{{tl|Search for}}''' template – (listed at the right of this page) provides <u>advanced, extensive search options</u> that are not available in the standard Find sources template.
** '''{{tl|Search for expanded}}''' – Expanded version of the Search for template
** '''{{tl|Search for horizontal}}''' – the Search for template in horizontal form
** '''{{tl|Search for horizontal expanded}}''' – Expanded version of the horizontal Search for template

===Indian newspapers searches===
* '''[http://searchindiannews.in Indian Newspapers Search Engine]''' (for all Indian languages) – can provide <u>results that do not show up in Google searches</u>, because Google sometimes does not index some Indian news websites. Additional Indian news search options are listed below. For more information, see [[WP:INDAFD]].
**'''[http://tito-dutta.my3gb.com/IndianEnglishNewspapersSearch.html#.V3jhUOsrJMw&gsc.tab=0 Indian English Newspaper Custom Search Engine]'''
**'''[https://drive.google.com/st/auth/host/0B3ke7sJYbO1gVkRjUVh6bmtqeVU/IndianEnglishNewspaperSearch.html#identifier Indian English Newspapers Search]''' {{resize|97%|(Google account required)}}

===Wikiproject custom search engines===
* Some [[Wikipedia:WikiProject|WikiProjects]] have their own custom Google search, to sort through websites they have agreed to be reliable sources. This often shows ample results that a Google news archive search does not. See examples below. 
** [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Search engine]] – This <u>Google Custom Search</u> is used by WikiProject Video games.

===Scholarly works===
* [https://scholar.archive.org/ Internet Archive Scholar] - The fulltext search index includes over 25 million research articles and other scholarly documents preserved in the Internet Archive.

==More resources==
===By topic===
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Food and drink/Tools/sources|WikiProject Food and drink/Tools/sources]] – a list of recommended sources for <u>food- and drink-related topics</u>
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Sources|WikiProject Albums/Sources]] – recommended sources for <u>music-related topics</u>
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Christian music/Sources|WikiProject Christian music/Sources]] – recommended sources for <u>Christian music</u>
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Sources|WikiProject Video games/Sources]] – recommended sources for <u>Video games</u>
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Professional wrestling/Sources|WikiProject Professional wrestling/Sources]] – recommended sources for <u>Professional wrestling</u>
* [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources (history)|Identifying reliable sources (history)]] – <u>History</u>-related topics
* [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources (medicine)|Identifying reliable sources (medicine)]] – <u>Medicine</u>-related topics
* [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources (natural sciences)|Identifying reliable sources (natural sciences)]] – <u>Natural sciences</u>-related topics
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Football/Fully professional leagues|WikiProject Football/Fully professional leagues]] – usable as an aide in considering the [[WP:NFOOTBALL]] guideline for <u>Association football</u>
* <u>Medicine</u> related topics:
{{Tmbox
|small = {{{small|}}}
|image=[[{{{image|File:Med template logo.png}}}|80px|alt=|link=]]
|text= <small>You can improve this article by using '''ideal sources''' as references to support medical and health content added to this article. These sources are defined in the guideline ''[[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources (medicine)]]''. ''Medical text books'', ''governmental health agencies'' and ''medical [[review articles]]'' are excellent sources. Here are links to some sources of information about '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.<br /> 
* [[PubMed]] provides '''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term={{urlencode:( "{{PAGENAME}}" {{#if:{{{synonym1|}}}|OR {{{synonym1}}} {{#if:{{{synonym2|}}}|OR {{{synonym2}}} {{#if:{{{synonym3|}}}|OR {{{synonym3}}}}}}}}}) AND Review[ptyp] AND "last 5 years"[PDat]|QUERY}} review articles from the past five years]''' (limit to '''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term={{urlencode:( "{{PAGENAME}}" {{#if:{{{synonym1|}}}|OR {{{synonym1}}} {{#if:{{{synonym2|}}}|OR {{{synonym2}}} {{#if:{{{synonym3|}}}|OR {{{synonym3}}}}}}}}}) AND Review[ptyp] AND free full text[sb] AND "last 5 years"[PDat]|QUERY}} free review articles]''' or to '''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/?term={{urlencode:( "{{PAGENAME}}" {{#if:{{{synonym1|}}}|OR {{{synonym1}}} {{#if:{{{synonym2|}}}|OR {{{synonym2}}} {{#if:{{{synonym3|}}}|OR {{{synonym3}}}}}}}}})|QUERY}} systematic reviews]''')
* The [[Trip (search engine)|TRIP database]] provides '''[https://www.tripdatabase.com/search?categoryid=1,11,16,18,10,9,4&criteria={{urlencode:"{{PAGENAME}}"|QUERY}} clinical publications about evidence-based medicine]'''.
* The Cochrane database provides access to full text evidence-based medical content: '''[http://www.cochrane.org/search/site/?{{urlencode:"{{PAGENAME}}"|QUERY}} clinical publications about evidence-based medicine]'''.
* The [[Centre for Reviews and Dissemination]] issues [[Health technology assessment]]s. Enter {{PAGENAME}} into the  '''[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/ searchbox]'''.
*The [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] provides access to medical and health content: Enter {{PAGENAME}} '''[https://search.cdc.gov/search? in the searchbox]'''</small>
}}

===Source searching===
* The Wikipedia [[Wikipedia:List of online newspaper archives|List of online newspaper archives]] – Very <u>extensive and useful list</u> of websites to find sources at
* The Wikipedia [[Wikipedia:List of free online resources|List of free online resources]] page – provides <u>many resources</u> for source searching
* The Wikipedia [[List of search engines]] article – provides a list of <u>additional search engines</u> that can be utilized.
* [[User:Tomwsulcer/sandbox tools]] – provides an <u>extensive list of news sources</u>
* [[Wikipedia:Search engine test#Specific uses of search engines in Wikipedia|Specific uses of search engines in Wikipedia]]

==See also==
* [[Criticism of Google#Possible misuse of search results|Criticism of Google § Possible misuse of search results]]
* [[Wikipedia:Overreliance upon Google]] – an essay
* [[Wikipedia:Reliable source examples]] – an essay
* [[Wikipedia:Suggested sources]] – an essay
* [[Help:Searching]] – about searches ''within'' Wikipedia
* [[Wikipedia:Article Rescue Squadron Guide to saving articles|Article Rescue Squadron Guide to saving articles]] – Includes source searching tips
* [[Help:Find sources]]
* [[List of academic databases and search engines]]
* [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources (science)]]
* [[Wikipedia:Journal sources]]

{{Essays on notability|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Wikipedia essays about building the encyclopedia]]
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