Keep your reading notes together instead of searching through separate documents. This literature review matrix builder puts sources, methods, samples, findings and gaps into a comparison table. Enter information you have checked in the papers, then save an editable JSON copy, spreadsheet CSV or printable HTML. Nothing is uploaded to an external API.
How to build your literature review matrix
Start with one paper and fill the source or citation field. Add the year, research aim, method, sample or data, findings, limitations and theme. Use Add paper for the next source. When ready, choose Build result. You can organise a 15–20 paper review or up to 30 papers. The example contains fictional studies, clearly marked DEMO; replace them with verified sources.
Use consistent comparison notes
Write a short, comparable note in each column. For methods, identify the study design rather than writing only “research”. For data, record the sample size, population or dataset. Keep findings distinct from the authors’ interpretations. Leave an unknown field blank instead of guessing. Include enough citation information to locate the paper again; the tool does not fetch DOI records or format citation styles.
Move from summary to synthesis
Reading across the grid can reveal shared methods, conflicting findings and gaps that need further checking. A table is a working aid, not a finished literature review. Return to the full papers before making claims, compare the settings and measures, and consider limitations. The tool does not read PDFs, judge study quality, generate academic prose or decide whether a gap is original.
Save CSV, JSON and a print copy
CSV opens in spreadsheet software. JSON preserves the editable fields for this tool: paste it into Import saved JSON, import it, then build again. Printable HTML can be opened locally and printed with the browser’s Save as PDF option. The print stylesheet uses A4 landscape. Check print preview because long notes can take several pages. No native PDF file is generated directly.
Protect text when exporting
Commas, quotation marks and line breaks are quoted in CSV. Formula-like text receives an apostrophe prefix to reduce the chance that a spreadsheet treats it as a formula. That prefix is an export change, so use JSON when exact text matters. Each field is limited to 2,000 characters; write concise notes and keep your detailed annotations separately.
Keep a copy before leaving
The tool runs in your browser and does not automatically save your entries. Reloading, resetting or closing the page can lose unsaved work. Download JSON regularly and keep the source papers with your normal research files. The page may have ordinary website scripts, but the tool itself sends no research notes to an external service. Check every citation and conclusion before submitting academic work.
Advice
Keep your own wording separate from quotations. Record page numbers in a note when you need them, and save an editable JSON backup after each reading session.
Frequently asked questions
Does it automatically read papers?
No. Enter notes you have verified yourself.
How many papers can I compare?
From one to 30 papers, including a 15–20 paper review.
Can I edit my matrix later?
Yes. Save JSON, paste it into Import saved JSON and import it.
Can I get a PDF?
Download Printable HTML, open it and use browser Print → Save as PDF.