How to Verify Conference Indexing in DBLP and EI Compendex
Scopus and Web of Science get most of the attention in conversations about conference indexing, but DBLP and EI Compendex matter just as much in computer science, engineering, and related fields, and each has its own distinct verification process worth understanding on its own terms.
DBLP serves a specific, narrower function than Scopus or Web of Science
DBLP is a bibliographic database focused specifically on computer science, maintained largely through community and publisher contribution rather than the more formal editorial evaluation process Scopus and Web of Science use. Being listed in DBLP is a strong signal of visibility within the CS community, though it’s a different kind of validation than a curated, criteria-based database.
Checking DBLP indexing is straightforward and free
DBLP’s own website offers a direct, free search by conference name, allowing you to confirm whether a specific edition’s proceedings appear there. Unlike Scopus, there’s no subscription barrier to checking this yourself, worth doing directly on the DBLP site rather than relying on a conference’s own claim.
EI Compendex applies a more formal, curated evaluation, closer to Scopus
EI Compendex, maintained by Elsevier’s Engineering Village platform, applies editorial selection criteria similar in spirit to Scopus, though covering specifically engineering-focused content, including many computer science and engineering conference proceedings. Verification requires access to Engineering Village, typically available through an institutional library subscription.
The two databases don’t always overlap
A conference indexed in DBLP isn’t automatically indexed in EI Compendex, and vice versa, since they apply different inclusion standards and cover somewhat different scope. Checking both independently, rather than assuming one implies the other, gives a fuller picture for fields where both databases are commonly referenced.
Field-specific weight varies for these two databases
In pure computer science, DBLP is often treated as close to a comprehensive, authoritative record of the field’s output, sometimes even more central than Scopus for day-to-day literature searching. In engineering more broadly, EI Compendex often carries more formal institutional weight, worth knowing which convention applies to your specific subfield.
Combine these checks with the broader indexing verification process
These two databases complement, rather than replace, the Scopus and Web of Science verification process covered in our companion guides on verifying Scopus indexing and verifying Web of Science indexing, worth checking all relevant databases for your specific field rather than relying on just one.
A DBLP and EI Compendex verification checklist
- Searched DBLP’s own website directly for the specific conference and edition
- Checked EI Compendex through Engineering Village, via institutional library access if needed
- Confirmed field-specific conventions on which database carries more weight in your subfield
- Cross-referenced with Scopus and Web of Science checks for a complete picture
Frequently asked questions
Is DBLP indexing as prestigious as Scopus indexing?
Within computer science specifically, DBLP inclusion is often seen as highly relevant and near-comprehensive, though it applies a less formal curation process than Scopus’s editorial evaluation.
Do I need an institutional subscription to check EI Compendex?
Typically yes, through Engineering Village, worth checking with your university library, which likely has existing access, before assuming you need to purchase access yourself.
What if a conference is indexed in DBLP but not EI Compendex, or vice versa?
This is common and not inherently a red flag, since the two databases apply different scope and criteria, worth evaluating each independently against your specific field’s conventions.