Searching OpenAlex

OpenAlex is an open index of scholarly literature. In Nested Knowledge, you can query OpenAlex the same way you would in the search bar on openalex.org. Your queries will continually update as new publications are added.

How to Search: General Tips #

You can enter keywords, phrases, or Boolean logic directly into the search box.

Simple Keywords #

• Enter one or more terms to find papers mentioning them e.g. diabetes

Boolean Operators #

• AND: Both terms must appear. diabetes AND alzheimer’s
• OR: Either term may appear. migraine OR headache
• NOT: Excludes terms. dementia NOT vascular

These operators MUST be capitalized.

Quotation Marks #

• Use quotes for exact phrases: "randomized controlled trial"

Grouping with Parentheses #

• Combine operators for complex queries: (diabetes OR obesity) AND "cardiovascular disease"

These features are similar to PubMed. See below for how OpenAlex language differs.

Tips for Searching OpenAlex #

Combining Search and Filters #

You can refine broad queries by adding filters on date, access type, or availability of full text.

• Example: diabetes AND alzheimer’s
  • (with filters set to from_publication_date:2020-01-01 and is_oa:true)

Using Concept and Topic Tags #

OpenAlex automatically tags works with concepts from its taxonomy. Filtering by these ensures coverage of a whole field or subfield without listing every synonym.

• Example: concept:"cardiovascular disease"
  • Captures all subtopics under cardiovascular research.

Restricting by Metadata #

Narrow searches by practical criteria like recency, language, or open access status.

• Example: sleep AND neuroscience (filtered to publications from 2023 onward, open access only)

Stemming #

OpenAlex automatically applies stemming, meaning that different word forms are treated as equivalent.

• Example: studies will also return results containing study or studying.
• Example: fish will also match fishing or fisheries.

This makes searches more inclusive, even if you don’t add every word variant.

Stop-Words #

Common stop-words (like the, a, in, of) are ignored in queries. This helps keep results relevant, but it also means searching with or without them makes no difference.

• Example: "effects of sleep" is treated the same as "effects sleep"

Learn more on how to use OpenAlex.