Enhance your web application with Scopus content.

Important Note

The Scopus API will be migrated to a new interface. Originally, that new interface was to be available from September 10th onwards, however this date has changed.


The new interface will now be available in early December 2011, at which point we will stop accepting registrations for the old interface, and will only accept registrations for the new interface.


The old interface will continue to exist after December, and any site registrations and API Keys created before the cutover will continue to be valid. However, the old interface will be fully decommissioned in 2012, which means that any application or site that is using the old interface will have to migrate to the new interface by then.


In light of this, new users of the Scopus API may wish to wait until December and register for the new interface.


If you have any questions or concerns, or have a need for access to Scopus data through APIs before December, contact us at: api@scopus.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Scopus API?

The Scopus Application Programmer Interface (API) for ScopusTM allows you to present Scopus search results through your own product's user interface via software that you develop.

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How do I start using the Scopus API?

Complete the following steps to use Scopus API:

  1. Request API access to Scopus from the Scopus Product organization.

  2. Register at Scopus API Developer Registration.

    Once you register, you will receive a Developer Key so you may begin creating your webpage.

  3. Create your webpage using the JavaScript example listed within this API.

  4. Test your integrator software in your test environment.

  5. Arrange for hosting your webpage.

  6. Test your webpage by conducting a search. The Scopus API will conduct your Scopus search.

Prior to creating a web page which will use the Scopus API, you must register for a developer's key.

Complete the following steps to register for your developer key:

  1. Click Registration to open the Scopus API Registration page.

  2. From the Scopus API Registration page, complete the following fields:
    • Name

    • E-mail address

    • Website url

    • Password

    • Confirm Password

  3. Read the Scopus Registered User Agreement and click the check-box to indicate you accept the agreement.

  4. Click Submit to complete your registration for using the Scopus API.

Note Once you have registered successfully, you can create additional Developer IDs.

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Where can I find some code samples?

See JavaScript Code Example for more information.

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Are there any limitations in data I can access through the Scopus API?

The Javascript and XML Interface API will have a maximum document retrieved during a user search based on the table below:

Also, Scopus API will return all requested entitled information based on the table below:

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Am I allowed to publish data I get through Scopus API on my website?

See Scopus API Terms and Conditions for more information

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What is the CitedBy extension?

The CitedBy extension is an interface we created on top of the Scopus API that allows you to very simply display Scopus CitedBy counts on your web page. Basically, it's a piece of Javascript that you can implement on your website; the script pulls in an image-based link from Scopus that displays the citation count ("Cited X times in Scopus") for your document and that opens the CitedBy results on Scopus when clicked.

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Can I use the same developer ID to user the CitedBy extension as the one I use for the Scopus API?

Yes, you can, although it's probably better to register for a separate key - you're less likely to hit the maximum number of requests for Scopus API or the CitedBy extension that way. Also, it will make it easier for us to help you in case you contact us with a problem.

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I'm planning to use the CitedBy extension to display the CitedBy counts for a really large number of documents. Can I do that?

Well - the CitedBy extension as well as the Scopus API itself do have limitations on the maximum number of requests they can handle. So, if you really expect to be hitting us hard (for instance, because you're a publisher of a large number of journals, or you have a huge preprint repository), it's better to contact us to see how we can better serve your need. If you don't, then there is the risk that you might be getting no results from the CitedBy extension, because you're hitting the maximum number of queries per minute.

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Can I use the Scopus API for my non-web product?

No, you cannot use the Scopus API for a non-web product. The Scopus API can only be accessed through JavaScript.

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Which web browsers are supported with SCOPUS API?

Scopus API will support any browser which supports JavaScript. JavaScript is necessary to use Scopus API.

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