As a database, CSDB contains manually curated literature data on natural carbohydrates. The data include primary structures, biotaxonomical assignment, bibliography, assigned NMR spectra, aglycons, glycoepitopes, etc.

Coverage is close to complete up to 2024 (bacteria, archaea, fungi, protista), and 2000 (plants).

As a glycoinformatic portal, CSDB can simulate 1D and 2D glycan NMR spectra, elucidate glycan structures from NMR, cluster taxa by their glycomes, analyze distribution of structural components against taxa, translate structures to multiple notations, predict molecular geometry, easily input and visualize complex glycan molecules.