ReFindit

Refindit (refindit.org) is a specialized search engine built to help chemists, spectroscopists, and analytical scientists locate reference spectra and chemical information across multiple trusted databases in one place. Developed collaboratively by organizations such as NIST, SMPDB/MetaboLights, MassBank, and others, Refindit functions as an aggregator—reducing the fragmentation that researchers typically face when hunting for reliable spectra across different repositories.

What makes Refindit especially useful is its multi-database federated search. Users can search by chemical name, structure (drawing or SMILES input), molecular formula, CAS number, or mass spectral features. The system then returns matched records pulled simultaneously from various independent spectral libraries. Instead of manually querying each database one by one, Refindit centralizes access to MS, NMR, IR, UV-Vis, and related datasets when available.

The platform’s lightweight interface and structure-based search capability make it valuable for analysts working on compound identification, metabolomics, environmental chemistry, or forensic science, where quick comparison with reference spectra is essential. Since it links directly to partner databases rather than hosting all content itself, it maintains high data fidelity while ensuring that users land on the authoritative source.

However, because Refindit relies on federated lookup, completeness varies depending on participating databases. Advanced features such as spectral similarity scoring or in-browser spectral overlays are limited compared to dedicated tools like MassBank or GNPS. But as a free, open-access discovery tool, Refindit excels at what it aims to do: make reference-data search faster, simpler, and more comprehensive.