Litmaps is different from search databases you may be familiar with. Instead of searching using keywords, Litmaps searches the citation network.

When a paper references another paper, it indicates a link between the content of the two papers: There must be something in common between them for the reference to have been made.

We can represent this link using a line. Here, paper A cites paper B:

Other papers may have also cited paper B:

Indeed, B will have cited other papers itself!

These citation links continue on and on, create a huge “citation network”. Litmaps uses this network to:

Check out this guide for step-by-step instructions on how to do your first search with Litmaps.

Search for a single paper in Litmaps, and use it as a starting point to generate a literature map. Litmaps traverses the citation network to find the most relevant papers based on one or more inputted paper(s). It quick compiles and visualizes a relevant list of reading material based on your input paper.

As you explore relevant papers using the Map, you can keep track of what you find using Tags. Litmaps Tags are a way to organize and keep track of your literature library.

Litmaps aims to enhance the research discovery process by helping you find relevant papers faster, build collections, and discover previously overlooked links between subjects.

Check out these resources to learn how to use Litmaps to serve your research needs: