---
name: "elink"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ncbi-entrez-direct"
version: "24.0.20250523+dfsg-1+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/elink"
---

# elink(1)

look up related NCBI Entrez records

## NAME

elink - look up related NCBI Entrez records

## SYNOPSIS

**elink** \[**-help**\] \[**-related**\] \[**-target** *dbname*\] \[**-name** *name*\] \[**-db** *name*\] \[**-id** *ID(s)*\] \[**-input** *filename*\] \[**-cmd** *command*\] \[**-cited**\] \[**-cites**\]

## DESCRIPTION

**elink** follows links between Entrez databases, either extending an existing Entrez Direct pipeline or honoring explicit **-db** and **-id** (or **-input**) options.

## OPTIONS

### Destination Database

- **-related**

  Look up neighbors in the same database.

- **-target** *dbname*

  Follow links to another database.

- **-name** *name*

  Follow an explicit link name such as **pubmed\_protein\_refseq**, **pubmed\_pubmed\_citedin**, or **pubmed\_pubmed\_refs**.

### Direct Record Selection

- **-db** *name*

  Entrez database name for immediate lookups.

- **-id** *ID(s)*

  Unique identifier(s) for immediate lookups.

- **-input** *filename*

  Read identifer(s) from file instead of standard input.

### Advanced Control

- **-cmd** *command*

  Command type (returns **eLinkResult** XML):

  - **edirect**

    Instantiate results in **ENTREZ\_DIRECT** message.

  - **uid**

    Return results as a sorted UID list, with any duplicates consolidated.

  - **history**

    Save results in Entrez history server.

  - **neighbor**

    Neighbors or links.

  - **score**

    Neighbors with computed similarity scores.

  - **acheck**

    All links available.

  - **ncheck**

    Existence of neighbors.

  - **lcheck**

    Existence of external links (LinkOuts).

  - **llinks**

    Non-library LinkOut providers.

  - **llibs**

    All LinkOut providers.

  - **prlinks**

    Primary LinkOut provider.

### PubMed Citation Lookup

- **-cited**

  References to this paper.

- **-cites**

  Publication reference list.

**-cited** and **-cites** use the NIH Open Citation Collection dataset (see PMID 31600197) to follow reference links.

### Miscellaneous Arguments

- **-help**

  Print usage information.

## SEE ALSO

[**ecollect**(1)](/ecollect/1.md), [**efetch**(1)](/efetch/1.md), [**efilter**(1)](/efilter/1.md), [**einfo**(1)](/einfo/1.md), [**epost**(1)](/epost/1.md), [**esearch**(1)](/esearch/1.md), [**nquire**(1)](/nquire/1.md), [**xfetch**(1)](/xfetch/1.md), [**xfilter**(1)](/xfilter/1.md), [**xlink**(1)](/xlink/1.md), [**xsearch**(1)](/xsearch/1.md).