medlineplus

is a Data Source.

MedlinePlus is the premier online health information resource from the National Library of Medicine, providing comprehensive, trusted health and wellness information for patients, families, and the general public. As a service of the world's largest medical library and part of the National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus delivers high-quality, evidence-based health content that is easy to understand, free of advertising, and available in both English and Spanish. The resource covers over 1,000 health topics including diseases, conditions, wellness information, and prevention strategies, with content organized into multiple categories including health topics, medical encyclopedia, drugs and supplements information, medical tests, healthy recipes, and genetics resources. MedlinePlus provides detailed information on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and supplements through its comprehensive drug information database. The medical encyclopedia contains thousands of articles, images, and videos covering diseases, symptoms, tests, and treatments. MedlinePlus Genetics offers information on genetic conditions, genes, chromosomes, and how genetic variations affect health.

Domains

health

License

Warning: No license entered

Homepage

medlineplus

Repository

Unknown

Infores ID

infores:medlineplus

FAIRsharing ID

Unknown

Product Summary

Products

From this Resource
ID Name URL Category Format Description
medlineplus.website MedlinePlus Website medlineplus.gov GraphicalInterface http Main MedlinePlus website providing co...
medlineplus.web_service MedlinePlus Web Service webservices ProgrammingInterface xml Web service providing search-based he...
medlineplus.connect_api MedlinePlus Connect API overview.html ProgrammingInterface http MedlinePlus Connect API enabling elec...
medlineplus.xml_files MedlinePlus XML Data Files xml.html Product xml Downloadable XML files containing com...
medlineplus.genetics_api MedlinePlus Genetics API geneticsdatafilesapi ProgrammingInterface json API and data files for retrieving gen...

Details

MedlinePlus

Overview

MedlinePlus is the National Library of Medicine’s premier online health information resource, providing trusted, high-quality health and wellness information for patients, families, and the general public. As a service of the world’s largest medical library and part of the National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus has been a cornerstone of consumer health information since its launch in 1998.

Information Resource ID

This resource has the Information Resource identifier: infores:medlineplus

Mission and Scope

MedlinePlus presents evidence-based health and wellness information that is trusted, easy to understand, and free of advertising, available in both English and Spanish. The resource is accessible anywhere, anytime, on any device, completely free of charge. All content is carefully reviewed and updated regularly by health professionals and librarians to ensure accuracy and currency.

Key Features and Content

Health Topics

  • Over 1,000 comprehensive health topics covering diseases, conditions, and wellness
  • Information organized by body system, condition, and prevention strategies
  • Links to relevant research, clinical trials, and latest health news

Medical Encyclopedia

  • Thousands of articles with medical images and videos
  • Coverage of diseases, symptoms, medical tests, and treatments
  • A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia content with detailed medical illustrations

Drug Information

  • Comprehensive information on prescription medications
  • Over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and supplements
  • Drug images, side effects, interactions, and proper usage

Medical Tests

  • Information explaining why doctors order specific tests
  • What results may mean and how to prepare for tests
  • Understanding laboratory values and diagnostic procedures

MedlinePlus Genetics

  • Information on genetic conditions and genes
  • How genetic variations affect health
  • Resources for understanding inheritance patterns and genetic testing

Multilingual and Accessible Content

  • Health information available in over 40 languages
  • Easy-to-read health information for those with limited health literacy
  • Accessible design meeting Section 508 standards

Technical Resources

For Developers

MedlinePlus provides multiple technical resources for integration:

  • Web Services: Search-based health topic data in XML format
  • MedlinePlus Connect: API for EHR systems and patient portals to link patients to relevant health information
  • XML Data Files: Downloadable complete records for all health topics
  • Genetics API: Retrieve genetic condition data in XML or JSON
  • RSS Feeds: General and topic-specific content feeds

MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs

A specialized API enabling electronic health record systems and patient portals to automatically link patients to relevant, authoritative health information based on their diagnoses, medications, and lab test results. This helps patients better understand their health conditions and treatments.

Content Standards

  • All information is reviewed by health professionals and medical librarians
  • Content meets the highest standards for accuracy and currency
  • Regular updates ensure information reflects current medical knowledge
  • No advertising or commercial bias
  • Clear distinction between information and medical advice

Usage and Impact

MedlinePlus serves millions of users monthly, making it one of the most visited health websites in the United States. The resource is widely used by patients, caregivers, students, health professionals, and librarians seeking reliable health information.

Support and Contact

Customer support is available through the National Library of Medicine’s knowledge base and help desk for questions about MedlinePlus content, functionality, and technical integration.

Is this information incorrect or incomplete? Request an update.

Created: November 08, 2025 | Last modified: November 08, 2025