openalex-database

Query OpenAlex for scholarly works and bibliometric insights.

15|2|Updated Dec 17, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/rubensliv/k-dense-ai --skill openalex-database-rubensliv
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: openalex-database
Source: https://github.com/rubensliv/k-dense-ai/tree/main/scientific-skills/openalex-database
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/rubensliv/k-dense-ai --skill openalex-database-rubensliv

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires requests, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

OpenAlex Database provides a structured interface to query the OpenAlex API for literature search, author and institution works, and bibliometric analysis, consolidating common workflows for researchers and analysts who need scalable access to 240M+ scholarly records.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Full-text and faceted searches across works, authors, institutions, and topics using OpenAlex; supports filters like year, OA status, and citations.
  • Two-step lookups for authors and institutions to reliably resolve IDs before querying works.
  • Batch lookups, sampling, and grouping/aggregation (e.g., by year or topics) to support bibliometric analyses and reporting.
  • Lightweight Python client with rate limiting, exponential backoff, pagination, and helper functions for common research tasks.

Quick Start

Instantiate the client with your email and run a basic search to retrieve works.

Frequently Asked Questions about openalex-database

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I query the OpenAlex API for scholarly literature search and bibliometric analysis?▼

Query the OpenAlex API for scholarly literature search and bibliometric analysis using a structured Python client that supports full-text searches, filtering by year or open access status, and citation analysis across 240M+ records.

Can I retrieve and filter works by author, institution, or open access status in OpenAlex?▼

Yes, you can retrieve and filter works by author, institution, or open access status in OpenAlex using two-step lookups to resolve IDs before querying, plus batch data extraction and grouping aggregations by year or topics.

How do I handle rate limiting and pagination when extracting batch bibliometric data from OpenAlex?▼

Handle rate limiting and pagination when extracting batch bibliometric data from OpenAlex using the built-in client features, which implement exponential backoff and automated pagination to support robust production workflows.

Do I need a specific API key or only the requests library to use this OpenAlex client?▼

You only need the standard requests library and your email to instantiate the OpenAlex client; no specific API key is required to start querying scholarly works and retrieving bibliometric insights.

What's the best way to resolve author or institution IDs before querying their works in OpenAlex?▼

The best way to resolve author or institution IDs before querying their works in OpenAlex is using the two-step lookup helper functions, which reliably resolve entities before executing filtered work retrieval.

Are there limitations when running large-scale batch data extraction across 240M+ records in OpenAlex?▼

When running large-scale batch data extraction across 240M+ records in OpenAlex, limitations are mitigated by the client's rate limiting, exponential backoff, and pagination, though query complexity and API constraints may still apply.