A database is a searchable collection of journals and other scholarly materials. There are two main types: subject-specific databases and multidisciplinary databases.
Access these databases and more through links in our A-Z Databases List. In many cases, you need to use Dalhousie Libraries’ links to databases to get access to paid database content instead of finding databases through a search engine.
Google is an amazing tool for finding information in your everyday life, but like every tool it comes with its own limitations. Google draws information from all over the internet, and unfortunately not all of it is reputable. 
Journal databases offer a more curated and manageable set of results that are relevant to the subject/subjects the database focuses on. Many databases also have features to help narrow down a search, including filters for publication date, subject, and peer-review status.
The narrower scope and the reliability of their resources mean you will spend less time searching and get better results than with other methods.