# Basic

The basic search at [openalex.org](https://openalex.org) is the no-code way to query OpenAlex. Type what you're looking for, then narrow the results with the filters down the side — no syntax, no account, no charge.

## How it works

1. **Search.** Enter a term and OpenAlex searches the relevant fields for that entity — for works, that's the title, abstract, and full text.
2. **Filter.** Use the filters alongside your results to narrow by things like year, work type, open-access status, or institution. Each filter you add narrows the set further.
3. **Facet.** Many filters double as facets: they show you the breakdown of your current results (how many are from each year, each country, and so on), so you can see the shape of your set as you refine it.
4. **Sort and export.** Reorder by citation count or date, then [export what you find](/help/export-results-from-the-openalex-website/) to CSV.

For most one-off questions, this is all you need.

## When basic isn't enough

Basic mode is a **friendly subset** of everything OpenAlex can express. It covers the common cases cleanly, but not all query shapes are expressible here — deep nesting, OR across different fields, and other complex combinations don't fit the point-and-click model.

When you hit that ceiling, switch to the [advanced query builder](/docs/website-advanced/), which covers the fuller range.