| Feature | PubMed | PubMed Central (PMC) | MEDLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | A free search engine for biomedical literature. | A free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences articles. | A bibliographic database of life sciences and biomedical literature. |
| Content | Citations and abstracts from MEDLINE, PMC, and other sources. | Full-text articles from journals and NIH-funded research. | Journal citations and abstracts indexed with MeSH terms. |
| Full-Text Access | No full-text guarantee (links to publisher websites, PMC, or open access sources). | Provides full-text access to articles. | No full-text; provides abstracts and citation details. |
| Source of Data | Aggregates data from MEDLINE, PMC, and other databases. | Receives content from publishers and authors. | Indexed journal articles selected by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). |
| Indexing Method | Includes both indexed (MEDLINE) and non-indexed records. | Articles are deposited directly by journals or authors. | Articles are indexed with MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). |
|
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) |
Many records have MeSH terms (MEDLINE articles), but some do not. | Articles may or may not include MeSH terms. | All articles are indexed with MeSH terms. |
| Scope | Broad biomedical literature, including preprints, books, and NIH-funded research. | Focuses on free full-text journal articles and research manuscripts. | High-quality, peer-reviewed biomedical journal articles. |
| Access | Free to search and access abstracts; full text may require a subscription. | Free full-text access. | Free to search, but access to full text depends on journal policies. |
| Managed By | U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). | U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). | U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). |
| Best For | Searching for biomedical literature, including indexed and non-indexed sources. | Accessing free full-text biomedical and life sciences research. | Finding high-quality, peer-reviewed journal articles with standardized indexing. |