# Working with .bib files

It's possible to include references in Overleaf using all of LaTeX's major bibliography management programs: biblatex, natbib, and bibtex. This article explains how to:

* manually create a new `.bib` file for storing your bibliography database
* upload an existing `.bib` file into your Overleaf project
* create a `.bib` file starting from an Overleaf template

{% hint style="success" %}
Users of Overleaf Premium can access features that allow them to link [Mendeley](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/mendeley.md), [Zotero](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/zotero.md), and [Papers](/integrations-and-add-ons/reference-manager-integrations/papers.md) to their Overleaf account. By connecting these reference managers, you can easily create `.bib` files by bulk-importing reference libraries or using [advanced search](/citing-and-references/adding-citations-and-references.md) to find and import individual references.
{% endhint %}

## Creating your bibliography database

To create a new bibliography file in your Overleaf project, in the editor, click the **New File** icon:

![Biblio1OLV2.png](/files/2YoMzMhutpUsPc6DPMGD)

An input box will appear for you to enter the name of the new file. The file should have the `.bib` extension. In this example it is called `mybibliography.bib`. Now click **Create**.

![Biblio2OLV2.png](/files/5CbqXnjnEM8gZ5KNmC6s)

A new file will be listed in the left panel. Click it to edit its contents. Add your bibliography entries there.

<figure><img src="https://learn.overleaf.com/learn-scripts/images/8/82/Biblio3OLV2.png" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Now you can import this `.bib` file in the main `.tex` file. See the next example.

```latex
\documentclass{article}

\usepackage[
backend=biber,
style=alphabetic,
sorting=ynt
]{biblatex}

\addbibresource{mybibliography.bib}

\title{Bibliography management: \texttt{biblatex} package}
\author{Share\LaTeX}
\date{ }

\begin{document}

\maketitle

\section{First section}

Using \texttt{biblatex} you can display bibliography divided into sections,
depending of citation type. 
Let's cite! The Einstein's journal paper \cite{einstein} and the Dirac's 
book \cite{dirac} are physics related items. 
Next, \textit{The \LaTeX\ Companion} book \cite{latexcompanion}, the 
Donald Knuth's website \cite{knuthwebsite}, \textit{The Comprehensive 
Tex Archive Network} (CTAN) \cite{ctan} are \LaTeX\ related items; but 
the others Donald Knuth's items \cite{knuth-fa,knuth-acp} are dedicated 
to programming. 

\medskip

\printbibliography
\end{document}
```

![Biblio4OLV2.png](/files/nDZ0EaSpAldHYL6XWVc0)

![Biblio5OLV2.png](/files/Hsg3DYadM5ErMFWi6Rfb)

The command `\addbibresource{mybibliography.bib}` adds the created bibliography file to the document so you can use those references. See [Bibliography management in LaTeX](https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/Bibliography_management_in_LaTeX) for more information about bibliography management.

## Uploading your bibliography database

If you already have a bibliography file that you need to use in an Overleaf project, you can upload it. Click the **Upload** icon located on top of the left panel.

![Biblio6OLV2.png](/files/KEmhsdXyDfPmN9olOIdj)

A dialog box will appear, you can either drag and drop the `.bib` file(s), or choose **select from your computer** to upload file(s) from your device.

![Biblio7OLV2.png](/files/EOhlTT0KlqoFA1zaxlEy)

Once the upload process is finished you can include the `.bib` file in your main `.tex` document.

## Using a template

The [Overleaf Gallery](https://www.overleaf.com/gallery) provides a large collection of templates, including several [bibliography-related](https://www.overleaf.com/gallery?addsearch=Bibliographies) templates:

![Biblio8OLV2.png](/files/UzAP7jPnL2MQHUCJFO8x)

For example, a Gallery search lists the entry [Multiple bibliographies with bibunits](https://www.overleaf.com/latex/examples/multiple-bibliographies-with-bibunits/ktgbztpwjnpb) which shows how to create multiple bibliographies/reference lists in the same document:

![Biblio9OLV2.png](/files/rV3GdkUbekX0HTLmQwGG)

If you select **Open as Template**, Overleaf will create a new project which you can modify and use as a basis for your work:

![Biblio10OLV2.png](/files/QFColM1K2uMxHjcTzLWO)

## Supported bibliography management systems

For more information about bibliography management in LaTeX see:

* [Bibliography management in LaTeX (using biblatex)](https://learn.overleaf.com/learn/Bibliography_management_in_LaTeX)
* [Bibliography management with natbib](https://learn.overleaf.com/learn/Bibliography_management_with_natbib)
* [Bibliography management with bibtex](https://learn.overleaf.com/learn/Bibliography_management_with_bibtex)


---

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