Which literature formats does Zotero support for import?

Zotero supports importing bibliographic data from numerous common literature formats. Key formats include BibTeX (.bib), RIS (.ris), EndNote XML (.xml), MODS (.xml), Citation Style Language (CSL) JSON, and MARC records. Additionally, Zotero facilitates direct import from scholarly databases via browser connectors and can import metadata from PDF files. Successful import requires correctly formatted data files adhering to the supported standards. While browser connectors provide seamless database imports, manually imported files (e.g., BibTeX, RIS) must match Zotero's expected structure. Note that proprietary formats used within specific platforms (like direct EndNote .enl libraries) are unsupported; data must be exported from those platforms into a compatible format first. Imported items may require subsequent cleanup for accuracy and completeness due to variations in source data quality or field mapping. This extensive import capability enables researchers to aggregate references from diverse sources into a single, organized library efficiently. Users can migrate existing collections from other reference managers by exporting them into RIS or BibTeX format. Scholars routinely employ Zotero's import functions to collect citations from databases (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science), institutional repositories, PDFs containing embedded metadata, or collaborative bibliographies shared by colleagues. This facilitates streamlined literature reviews and citation management within academic workflows.