refbase is a web-based, platform-independent reference database for managing scientific literature and citations. The platform provides a multi-user interface that helps researchers, teams, and institutions organize bibliographic records online. refbase can import and export references in formats such as BibTeX, EndNote, RIS, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, CSA Illumina, RefWorks, MODS XML, OpenOffice, and MS Word. Users can create formatted citation lists in HTML, RTF, PDF, or LaTeX. The system also supports powerful searching, RSS feeds, OpenSearch, SRU/W web services, unAPI, and COinS metadata. Built for scientific literature management, refbase helps make citation data accessible to users, clients, and search engines.