refbase is a web-based reference database designed for managing scientific literature and citations through a platform-independent, multi-user interface. The software helps researchers and organizations store, search, import, export, and format bibliographic references. refbase supports many common reference formats, including BibTeX, EndNote, RIS, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, CSA Illumina, RefWorks, MODS XML, OpenOffice, and MS Word. Users can generate formatted citation lists in HTML, RTF, PDF, or LaTeX for use in research, writing, and documentation workflows. The platform includes powerful search capabilities that make it easier to find references across a shared database. RSS support allows users to follow updates and changes in reference collections. refbase also includes OpenSearch and SRU/W web services for structured access by external clients. Support for unAPI and COinS metadata helps search engines and citation tools discover and use reference data more easily. By combining reference management, citation formatting, search, metadata support, web services, and multi-user access, refbase helps teams manage scientific literature from a browser-based system.