biber

biber [options] data_file

--debug
    Enable debugging mode.

--tool
    Run in tool mode (don't process a .bcf file).

--cache
    Enable caching of bibliography data.

--codepage=codepage
    Specify the codepage for input files.

--configfile=file
    Specify a biber configuration file.

--datafile=file
    Specify the .bcf file to process.

--logfile=file
    Specify a file for logging output.

--namesep=sep
    Specify the separator for name lists.

--output_resolve
    Write resolved dependencies to the output file.

--output_safechars
    Escape unsafe characters in the output.

--quiet
    Suppress informational messages.

--replog
    Redirect log output to standard error.

--server
    Run in server mode.

--trace
    Enable extensive tracing output.

--help
    Display help information.

--version
    Display version information.

Biber is a bibliography processor designed specifically for use with the LaTeX biblatex package. Unlike traditional BibTeX, Biber supports Unicode, sophisticated sorting, and advanced field handling. It processes the `.bcf` file generated by biblatex during LaTeX compilation, extracts bibliography data references from the `.bcf` file, retrieves the corresponding data from the specified `.bib` files, and outputs a bibliography data file that biblatex can read. Biber provides greater flexibility and customization options compared to BibTeX, making it suitable for complex bibliographies and multilingual documents. It supports a wider range of field types and features like cross-referencing between bibliography entries, more sophisticated name parsing, and improved handling of journal titles. Biber utilizes a modular architecture allowing for future extensions and feature additions. It is written in Perl and requires a Perl installation to run.

Biber requires biblatex to function correctly. The .bib files must be properly formatted and adhere to the BibTeX syntax. Ensure that the versions of biber and biblatex are compatible to avoid unexpected behavior.

The typical workflow involves compiling the LaTeX document with biblatex, which generates a `.bcf` file. Then, biber is run on the `.bcf` file, creating a `.bbl` file. Finally, the LaTeX document is compiled again to incorporate the bibliography generated by biber.

Example:
1. latexmk document.tex
2. biber document
3. latexmk document.tex

Biber can be configured using a configuration file (`biber.conf`). This file allows you to customize various aspects of biber's behavior, such as the locations of `.bib` files, the sorting scheme, and the handling of name formats. The configuration file can be specified using the `--configfile` option.

Biber was developed as a replacement for BibTeX to address its limitations, particularly in Unicode support and advanced bibliography features. It gained popularity as biblatex became more widely adopted, providing a robust and extensible solution for bibliography management in LaTeX documents. Development continues to this day to add features and address edge cases.

bibtex(1)