Citation searching is an umbrella term that entails various methods of citation based literature retrieval. Citation searching can contribute substantially to evidence retrieval and can show similar or even superior effectiveness and efficiency compared with text and keyword based searches.
Two easy subtypes of citation searching are:
Reference list checking is manually reviewing reference lists to screen the cited references. This is a type of backwards citation searching.
Forwards citation searching is looking up the known "seed" article, and finding the newer articles which have cited the seed article. An easy way to do this is through Google Scholar. Search for the seed article, then click 'cited by'.
Hirt J, Nordhausen T, Fuerst T, Ewald H, Appenzeller-Herzog C. Guidance on terminology, application, and reporting of citation searching: the TARCiS statement BMJ 2024; 385 :e078384 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078384
Gusenbauer M. Beyond Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science: An evaluation of the backward and forward citation coverage of 59 databases' citation indices. Res Syn Meth. 2024; 15(5): 802-817. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1729