The basis for searches in WBIS Online is the World Biographical Index (WBI), representing a complete index to the 58 Biographical Archives, that are available in digitized format in WBIS Online.

The Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopädie (DBE) [Dictionary of German Biography] provides information on roughly 62,000 individuals whose lives, works and achievements are considered remarkable to this very day. Reaching back as far as Charlemagne, the DBE covers individuals from all walks of public life who contributed to the cultural heritage of the German-speaking areas.