Zotero can import bibliographic data stored in a variety of standardized formats used by databases and other reference management tools. The most popular formats are RIS, Bib(La)Tex, and MODS.

If you have a database stored in one of these formats, such as a BibTeX database you've compiled or a RIS database you've exported from another reference manager, you can import them into Zotero by clicking File → “Import…” and choose “A file”.

See also Moving to Zotero

Zotero can import the following bibliographic formats:

1. Zotero RDF
2. CSL JSON
3. BibTeX
4. BibLaTeX
5. RIS
   1. Can be convenient for quick edits between export & import because of its simple structure
6. Bibliontology RDF
7. MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema)
8. Endnote XML
   1. Best format for exporting from Endnote
9. Citavi XML
   1. Best format for exporting from Citavi
10. MAB2
11. MARC
12. MARCXML
13. MEDLINE/nbib
14. OVID Tagged
15. PubMed XML
16. RefWorks Tagged
    1. Best format for exporting from RefWorks
17. Web of Science Tagged
18. Refer/BibIX
    1. Generally avoid if any other option is available
19. XML ContextObject
20. Unqualified Dublin Core RDF