4. Use RSS functionality and the MS Academic Search API

In addition to its many functions, MS Academic Search offers two solutions for remote access to database information:

• RSS feed functionality: this is a protocol that enables you to retrieve the results of your searches from a remote tool. These results are updated in real time, and take the form of a simple link to be provided, for example, to an RSS feed reader. The link takes the form of a button in the top right-hand corner of your search results:

• a tool called the API: this can be used as a basis for creating software programs that analyze the extensive data in MS Academic Search. It's a tool to be used in-house, with the help of an IT specialist, to create your own applications (to find out more, see "Going further").