# How to Use This DeFi Research Site

> Start with your question: use learning paths for the basics, protocol pages for mechanics, comparisons for design trade-offs and tools for assumptions. Search finds specific terms and the topic directory works without JavaScript. Check the page date and follow its primary sources before relying on changing parameters.

Canonical: https://decentralized-finance.io/help/using-this-site/
Updated: 2026-09-30
Audience: Readers choosing where to begin

## Research outcome
Find the appropriate format and trace a claim to its evidence.

## Scope and fit
This is a research publication, not a trading terminal or an account-support desk for a protocol.

## Which format answers my question?

A question such as “what is a health factor?” usually needs a short definition or a learning guide. “How do Aave and Morpho differ?” needs a comparison of mechanisms. “What changed this week?” needs dated news. Using the matching format helps you avoid treating a historic explainer as a current market quote.

The [quick answers](https://decentralized-finance.io/answers/) and [glossary](https://decentralized-finance.io/glossary/) explain terms. The [learning paths](https://decentralized-finance.io/learn/) put guides into an order. [Protocol research](https://decentralized-finance.io/protocols/) describes architecture, permissions and risks; [comparisons](https://decentralized-finance.io/compare/) bring differences together. [News](https://decentralized-finance.io/news/) separates governance proposals from verified live developments.


## How do I search effectively?

Use a protocol name plus the mechanism you want to understand: “Aave liquidation”, “Resupply collateral” or “stablecoin redemption”. Search matches the words in titles, summaries and tags; it is not a full-text search of every paragraph. Try fewer words when a long natural-language query has no results.

After searching, use the content-type selector to narrow the results. A result in “Tools” is different from an article about a tool. You can bookmark the search URL and return to it. If interactive search is unavailable, the [topic directory](https://decentralized-finance.io/sitemap/) provides ordinary links without requiring scripts.


## How do I follow the evidence?

Read the direct answer, then use the section links to reach the detail relevant to your question. Follow the page’s official documentation, governance or regulator links for changing facts. Record both the source date and the date you checked it. A publication date establishes when a report was written, not when a proposed feature became available.

If a number matters, identify the network, market, token and observation date. Two tokens with the same ticker can have different contracts. A source-linked research page is a starting point for verification, not a substitute for the exact contract or issuer terms. The [research methodology](https://decentralized-finance.io/method/) explains the evidence behind each format.


## What should I do after reading?

Choose one next question rather than opening every related link. A lending comparison can lead to the [health factor calculator](https://decentralized-finance.io/tools/health-factor-calculator/) and then the [due-diligence checklist](https://decentralized-finance.io/learn/defi-due-diligence-checklist/). A stablecoin definition can lead to issuer research and the [stablecoins hub](https://decentralized-finance.io/stablecoins/).

If you spot a contradiction or outdated detail, use [Contact](https://decentralized-finance.io/contact/) and include the exact page URL, the sentence in question and a primary source. The [corrections log](https://decentralized-finance.io/corrections/) records material factual fixes. Never include a seed phrase, private key or sensitive account details.


## Next steps

1. [Search the publication](https://decentralized-finance.io/search/)
2. [Browse all topics](https://decentralized-finance.io/sitemap/)
3. [Choose a learning path](https://decentralized-finance.io/learn/)

Original editorial text: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Third-party material retains its own rights.