This online handbook provides details on functionality, data structures and best practices for BOLD. It explains how to use this system to collect, manage and publish Barcode and ancillary data. It also provides details on the integrated analytical tools, as well as the public databases.

Frequently Asked Questions for new users and registered users.

This is the PDF version of the handbook for BOLD 3 version, produced in September 2012.

Ratnasingham, S. & Hebert, P. D. N. (2007). BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data System (www.barcodinglife.org). Molecular Ecology Notes 7, 355-364. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-8286.2006.01678.x

• 4840 citations circa January 2022

Ratnasingham S, Hebert PDN (2013) A DNA-Based Registry for All Animal Species: The Barcode Index Number (BIN) System. PLoS ONE 8(8): e66213. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0066213

• 1515 citations circa January 2022

Manuscripts regarding DNA Barcoding standards for Animals, Plants and Fungi.

Check out the recent news and events for BOLD Systems!

Data Release packages for the iBOL project and the Canadian Barcode of Life Network project.

BOLD Web Services that provide the ability to query and retrieve data from the BOLD.