Smart Search: Explore context-aware discovery
Smart Search is the new default search experience in Web of Science, designed to make discovery more intuitive and flexible. Currently in its opt-out phase, Smart Search uses semantic search (vector embeddings) to interpret natural, descriptive language and go beyond traditional keyword matching.
Smart Search is not a Question & Answer research tool and does not support conversational chat. Instead, simply type topics or queries that describe what you're looking for rather than full questions expecting direct answers. It’s a context-aware discovery tool designed to connect user intent with the most relevant content across Web of Science databases.
There’s no need to master complex Boolean syntax. Smart Search constructs the Boolean query behind the scenes. For users who prefer more control, Smart Search also supports traditional Boolean operators such as AND, OR NOT enabling precise and flexible search refinement. For more accurate results when using Boolean logic, select 'Boolean' from the preferred search results dropdown as semantic search is context-aware and may interpret Boolean queries differently leading to less relevant results.
Note for expert users and librarians: The Advanced Search tab remains fully available in the new interface and it's not AI-enabled even when 'Try the new search' is enabled. It continues to support all existing search capabilities, including fielded search and Boolean logic, thus nothing has been removed or replaced.
Smart Search features
One-Box Search is designed for simplicity and ease-of-use. It supports both document and researcher discovery, allowing users to search across multiple entities in one place without needing to select specific fields or databases.
While not conversational, One-Box intelligently interprets your input to surface relevant results.
Key capabilities include:
- Multilingual recognition: Supports discovery across multiple languages by interpreting and translating content.
- Intelligent suggestions: Offers context-aware typeahead suggestions to help refine and expand your search.
Natural Language Support: Smart Search understands natural, descriptive language, allowing users to express topics in everyday terms rather than relying on exact keywords or structured syntax.
Currently, it does not support question-style queries such as “Show me papers on topic X published by author Y.” Smart Search may return less relevant results for these types of queries. For more precise, conversational, or Q&A-style searches, we recommend using the Web of Science Research Assistant, which is specifically designed to handle them.
Examples: Natural Language (Descriptive) Queries that smart search supports and can return more relevant results for.
Descriptive-queries (not Question & Answer, or conversational)
| Question & Answer queries (not supported, may return less relevant results) | Descriptive queries (supported, more relevant results) | Boolean Query It Actually Runs |
| How does climate change impact global warming? | Impact of climate change on global warming | TS = (Impact of climate change on global warming) |
| What are the causes of global warming? | Drivers of global warming | TS = (Drivers of global warming) |
| Why is sea level rising? | Sea level rise due to climate change | TS = (Sea level rise due to climate change) |
| Why are healthcare workers hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine? | COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers | TS = (COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers) |
| Show me papers on gene editing published in 2007 | Gene editing 2007
| PY = Year published and TS = Gene editing |
For users who prefer more control, One-Box supports:
- Boolean operators such as AND, OR or NOT
- Parentheses for advanced query refinement
This combination of flexibility and structure makes One-Box Search a powerful tool for both novice and expert users.
Examples: Boolean Operators ( ‘AND’ or ‘OR’ or 'NOT')
| What You Type | How the System Interprets It | Boolean Query It Actually Runs
|
| DNA AND RNA | Boolean Search | ((TS = DNA) AND (TS = RNA)) |
| AI OR machine learning in medicine | Boolean Search | ((TS = AI) OR (TS = machine learning in medicine)) |
| cancer NOT chemotherapy | Boolean Search | (TS = cancer) NOT ((TS = chemotherapy)) |
Smart Search vs. Advanced Search
Advanced Search retains the full set of traditional search functionalities for experienced users who prefer precise control through structured syntax and complex Boolean queries. It is currently integrated into the new interface, but it does not incorporate AI technologies.
| Feature | Smart Search | Advanced Search |
| Search functionality | One-Box search | All existing search features: Fielded Search (same as Document Search) Query Builder (same Advanced Search) Citated reference search Structured search
|
| Ease of use | Simple and intuitive - Novice or early-stage researchers | Fielded or Precise - Expert users |
| Typeaheads & Autocomplete | AI-enabled typeaheads | Selected typeaheads; AI-enabled typeaheads not supported |
Autocorrection (showing results ‘for’ instead ‘of’)
Did you mean? | Yes, both supported
| Autocorrection not supported Did you mean? supported
|
| Boolean Query Conversion | Automatic conversion of queries to Boolean | Manual (user customize query) |
| Boolean Search results | Summary page, document tab. Preferred search results can be selected | Summary page
|
| Semantic search results | Understands the context, meaning of queries, it interprets long phrase better. | Semantic search not supported |
| Search personalization | Supported | No |
| Translated Search | Supports UI languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese Japanese, Korean, Portuguese Russian, Arab, Spanish | No |
You can switch between ALLDB or WoSCC:
All Databases: One-Box searches all fields across ALL Databases in one go, offering a seamless and comprehensive experience. Individual databases cannot be searched separately
Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC): One-Box offers the flexibility to search all fields exclusively within WoSCC
Multilingual Search
One-Box Search also supports up to 8 languages, allowing users to enter queries in their preferred language. When a supported language is detected, a language toggle appears on the search results page, enabling users to switch between English and their chosen language effortlessly.
- On the results page, all 50 titles are automatically translated into the selected language.
- Abstracts remain in English unless the user clicks the Translate button on an individual article card.
- On the full record page, both the title and abstract are translated automatically but only if the user chooses to translate the abstract.
This makes the search experience truly multilingual, helping users explore research in the language they’re most comfortable with.
Autocorrection feature (Handling Typos & Misspellings)
Even if you type something incorrectly, the system helps by:
- Autocorrection will only be applied when no records are found for the given input and suitable corrected words are identified.(showing results for ‘Obfuscate’ instead of ‘Obfuskate’).
- For misspelt words e.g. Dogg, it will show results and ask “Did you mean?” ‘Dog’ on summary page if input is unclear.
Example:
You type Physic → It will return results for "Physics"
You type Crispr gene editng → It suggests "Did you mean? Crispr gene editing on results page
Personalized, Context-Aware Typeaheads
Intelligent typeahead help speeds up searches by predicting what user need, reduces effort by personalizing suggestions based on your previous searches for signed-in users and helps discover related research by suggesting relevant topics.
As users start typing, intelligent typeaheads provide suggestions based on:
- Popular Searches - Takes Web of Science history into consideration and when users sign in, the experience becomes even more personalized and context-aware
- Topics – Suggests topics relating to user query
- Author Names – Matches authors in Last Name, First Name format
- Affiliations – Suggests universities, institutions and research organizations.
- Journal Names – Suggests known journals as you type.
If you often search for "machine learning," you might see suggestions like "Machine Learning in Healthcare" or "Deep Learning Models." If you type "Smith, J," the system may prioritize "Smith, John (MIT)" based on your history.
Dual-Tab Interface – Search results
When you search using One-Box, results are neatly displayed on two separate tabs:
Documents Tab: Display document search results.
Researchers Tab: Display researchers, number of documents published, affiliation etc. and users can view their profiles.
| User Query | Document Tab (Search results) | Researcher Tab (Search results) |
| Author name(s) | Search results: document(s) published by the author | Search results: authors that match the name (unclaimed and claimed)
|
| Topic | Search results: document(s) on that topic (covid)
| Search results: authors who write on that topic based on number of publication and citations. |
| Institution, Affiliation | Search results: document(s) written by the address listed on the paper
| Search results: authors who currently work at that institution or who have worked at institution
|
| Journal/Publication title | Search results: publication(s) published in that journal
| Search results: authors have published in that journal
|
| Article title | Search results: document(s) that match the title
| Search results: author(s) who wrote that publication(s)
|
| Author identifier | Search results: document(s) written by that author(s) that match the identifier
| Search results: author(s) that match the identifier
|
| Document identifier | Search results: exact document specified
| Search results: Authors that wrote the article
|
| Multiple fields (Author name and pub year; Author name affiliation or topic) | Results come back with document(s) published by the author and affiliation (address listed) or topic
| Search results: author profiles that match the name
|
Document Tab (search results): Users can select preferred search results; combined Boolean and semantic, semantic only and Boolean only.
Combined Boolean and Semantic Search Results: Once user search is processed, we combine two approaches:
Boolean search provides precision.
Semantic search brings context-aware flexibility.
The system ranks and blends results for the most relevant search results.
Example Hybrid Search Results for:
User query: Impact of global warming on food security
Search results return both Boolean and Semantic search results e.g.
1️) Paper titled " Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People" (Boolean match).
2️) Paper titled “The Role of Digital Agriculture in Mitigating Climate Change and Ensuring Food Security: An Overview” (Semantic match).
The ranking algorithm blends both sets of results, presenting you with the most relevant documents and researcher profiles on separate tabs.
Researcher Tab (search results)
Author name search: In the researcher tab, we are replicating the functionalities of the Advanced Search page's Researcher Search. For name searches, use the format "Last name, First name" or select a suggestion from the one-box. If you enter "First name, Last name," it will be treated as a 'topic' rather than an 'author name' due to system constraints.
Author Topic Search: For searches specifically related to an author topic, we leverage the topic model to return top 100 authors relevant to that topic based on number of documents published and citation count.
For all other entity-based searches, the system returns authors based on their publications (e.g., those who have published in a particular journal or are affiliated with a specific institution).
Example:
User enter search term/query “AI ethics.”
We will not only return documents on AI ethics in the document tab but in a separate tab, displays a list of leading researchers (top 100 authors) working on AI ethics, not ranked but authors most publications and citations on AI ethics. For other types of searches, you we display authors associated with the relevant journals or institutions or user query.
Total count beyond entitlements (Search results)
1. What does the total results count include?
The total results count shows all documents relevant to your search across the Web of Science Core Collection, including content outside your institution’s subscription.
2. Why do I see fewer results than the total count?
The results displayed include only the documents your institution has access to. The total count includes additional relevant content that is not part of your subscription.
3. Can I view documents outside my institution’s subscription?
No. Only documents within your institution’s subscription are displayed and accessible.
4. I am running the same search as another user but see a different number of results. Why?
The number of results displayed depends on your institution’s subscription. While the total results count remains the same, the results shown to you include only the content your institution has access to.
5. Does the total count affect search results or filtering?
No. Search results and filters apply only to the documents available within your access. The total count is shown separately for reference.