Get API keys

The API keys are for individual use and are linked to your institution/organisation credentials. DO NOT SHARE THEM.

PubMed

In the context of a literature review, which needs a low request rate and quota, you do not need a key to use the PubMed API.

If you want a higher request rate (about 10 requests/second instead of 3), you can optionally register a free NCBI API key from your NCBI account, under Account Settings → API Key Management. It remains entirely optional.

More info at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/tools/developers/

Scopus

Access the Elsevier developer portal at: https://dev.elsevier.com/
Click on “I want an API key”
Sign in with your institutional/organisation credentials
Click on “Create API key”
Enter the label of your API key (avoid the use of spaces in the name)
You don’t need to provide a website URL
Read the API Service Agreement
Tick “I agree with the API Service Agreement”
Read the text and data mining provisions
Tick “I agree with the TDM Provisions”
Click “Submit”
You will be redirected to “My API Key” where you will find your API key

Some institutional Scopus subscriptions also require an institutional token (insttoken) in addition to the API key. If your API calls return an authentication error (HTTP 401) even with a valid key, contact Elsevier support to request an institutional token for your account. If your key works on its own, you do not need an institutional token.

Web of science

Access the Clarivate developer portal at: https://developer.clarivate.com/
Click log in if you already are a member, or sign in using your institutional/organisation credentials
Click “Applications” at top of the page
Enter an application ID (avoid the use of spaces in the name)
Enter an application name
Enter an application description to explain the use of the API (e.g., running a systematic review on dog vaccine)
Choose the client type “Confidential: Server side application, can keep secrets confidential
Do NOT tick “This application will use OAuth2.0 Flows (other than the Client Credentials flow, i.e. using redirects)”
Click on “Register application”
Click on “APIs” at top of the page
Select the tile “Web of Science API Expanded”
At the bottom of the page click “Subscribe”
You will need to wait for Clarivate to approve your application and provide you with your individual API key (it can take several days to weeks, do not hesitate to contact the Clarivate support team for updates at ts.support.anz@clarivate.com)

Well done!

Now that you got your API keys, you can continue to the next tutorial → LitFetchR (Tutorial)