Glossary: Platform or Interface

Online resources (databases, e-books, e-journals) need to run on some sort of software, and this is referred to as the platform or interface. This software determines such things as what the screen looks like, how the items can be searched, sorted, displayed, and what other features are available. All online resources rely on the platform to make them useable.

The Library usually has no say in what type of platform a databases uses. We purchase resources from publishers and data providers who create the sites and we only link to them. Only if a database is available from more than one source can we choose which platform we prefer.