The Folklore Database is a research resource for the comparative study of world folklore, bringing together hundreds of thousands of myths, legends, folktales, and sacred narratives. Its searchable collection includes more than 286,000 distinct narratives across over 1,200 cultures and traditions, supported by references and thousands of motifs. Researchers and curious readers can explore stories through keyword and semantic search, filter by mytheme, and examine where narratives and motifs appear using geospatial maps.

The platform also supports cross-cultural comparison and browsing through established research tools, including the ATU Tale-Type Index, Stith Thompson’s Motif-Index, and the Berezkin and Duvakin motif catalogue. Additional resources include a bibliography, references, papers, videos, and guidance on using the database. Searching requires a free account, while visitors can browse selected indexes and maps.

The database also invites enquiries from those seeking access to data for projects and research. Created and developed by Jonathan Fielder-White, it is designed to help users investigate how stories travel, vary, and connect across cultural traditions