The Protein Data Bank (PDB), initiated in the 1970s by a group of young crystallographers, is a major international resource for structural biology, containing over 80,000 entries as of August 14, 2012. The database organizes 3-D structural data of large biological molecules, including proteins and nucleic acids from various organisms, using methods like X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The PDB is freely accessible and managed by a team from Rutgers and UCSD, funded by multiple organizations. The website offers various search options and educational resources, such as PDB-101, and supports multiple file formats for viewing and downloading. It also includes a deposition section for uploading new data and tools for sequence and structure alignments. The PDB collaborates with other organizations to maintain a single, globally accessible archive through the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB).The Protein Data Bank (PDB), initiated in the 1970s by a group of young crystallographers, is a major international resource for structural biology, containing over 80,000 entries as of August 14, 2012. The database organizes 3-D structural data of large biological molecules, including proteins and nucleic acids from various organisms, using methods like X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The PDB is freely accessible and managed by a team from Rutgers and UCSD, funded by multiple organizations. The website offers various search options and educational resources, such as PDB-101, and supports multiple file formats for viewing and downloading. It also includes a deposition section for uploading new data and tools for sequence and structure alignments. The PDB collaborates with other organizations to maintain a single, globally accessible archive through the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB).