Article Details

Over the past few decades, historical research has undergone a significant shift from traditional analogue methods to digital formats. Before the mid-1990s, researchers were limited to physical structures, printed books and magazines, historical sites, and institutions, and relied heavily on personal interaction (oral interviews) to obtain information. However, with the advent of the Internet and the world wide web, a vast corpus of information has become readily available to historians, researchers, and the wider public. Digital tools have become essential for historians to access and analyse digitised materials such as manuscripts, texts, maps, photographs, and newspapers. Popular digital tools for research include Google tools, digital libraries and archives, text analysis software, data visualisation tools, and GIS mapping software. These tools make it easier for historians to understand and analyse historical events, trends, and patterns. The study's methodology is a blend of quantitative and qualitative approaches, consulting digital sources on the websites of various online libraries, archives, and other digital tools. Findings indicate that while digital tools have significant advantages, they also have limitations. For instance, some historical materials are yet to be digitised, and some may be inaccessible due to copyright restrictions. Moreover, digital tools require specific skills and training to use effectively, and their interpretation necessitates critical analysis. Nonetheless, this research concludes that digital tools are a powerful aid to historians in accessing, analysing, interpreting, and reconstructing historical events, trends, and patterns. It further ensures that history is preserved for future generations. Notwithstanding, is important to note that the intent of this paper is not to dismiss traditional methods but rather to propose a complete and inclusive approach.

Digital tools, Digital history, Historical research,