If you're doing any sort of significant work you'll want to use the actual Zotero application, yes. The web library is sufficient for basic editing/reading functionality while you're away from your computer but it isn't a replacement for the Zotero application.
Thank you, dstillman. I am working on brief documentation for college students and wonder if their needs (capturing citations, pdfs, and then creating a bibliography) can be met with the web library. Remind me: is the download necessary initially for registration, or can one do that via the website?
If you're teaching them Zotero, you'd want to teach them the actual Zotero application. When people talk about "Zotero", that's what they're talking about. All documentation on this site is about the application, not the web library. Again, the web library is just for accessing your Zotero library when away from your main computer. Among many other things, you can't use word processor integration (for citing in Word, LibreOffice, or Google Docs) without the application.
Registration is via the website. An account isn't required to use Zotero, but particularly for students (who likely don't have particularly rigorous backup procedures) we would recommend encouraging them to set up syncing.
For one-off bibliographies, ZoteroBib is another option. But for extended projects or for actually building a library, the Zotero application is the thing to use.
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Registration is via the website. An account isn't required to use Zotero, but particularly for students (who likely don't have particularly rigorous backup procedures) we would recommend encouraging them to set up syncing.
For one-off bibliographies, ZoteroBib is another option. But for extended projects or for actually building a library, the Zotero application is the thing to use.