Databases can be either subject or discipline specific, or cover a wide range of disciplines.

Subject specific		Multi disciplinary
The subject coverage is within one discipline specifically		The subject coverage is for a range of disciplines, not limited to one
Example		Example
Ei Compendex - covers mechanical, chemical, civil and electrical engineering.		Proquest 5000 - covers business, health, computing, science, social sciences, etc.

It is important to search within the databases that are related to your topic. You may need to search a number of databases to find a comprehensive range of information.

There are several considerations that will help you choose the right database. Click here to learn about these.