diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 340ef59..e504c33 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ client.fetch_names(id_list, ids)
 client.upload(path_to_file, email, recid, invitation_cookie, sandbox, password)
 
 ```
+`client.find()` takes the keyword argument `format` to specify which format from `str`, `list`, `set`, or `tuple` shall be returned.
+Default is `str`.
 
 ## Examples
 
@@ -188,8 +190,7 @@ Then,
 ```python
 import hepdata_cli
 hepdata_client = hepdata_cli.Client()
-id_list = hepdata_client.find('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ X"', ids='arxiv')
-id_list = id_list.split()
+id_list = hepdata_client.find('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ X"', ids='arxiv', format=list)
 print(id_list)  # ['1605.06035', '2101.11582', ...]
 
 import arxiv
diff --git a/hepdata_cli/api.py b/hepdata_cli/api.py
index 60e7ec6..91252ad 100644
--- a/hepdata_cli/api.py
+++ b/hepdata_cli/api.py
@@ -32,15 +32,18 @@ def __init__(self, verbose=False):
         # check service availability
         resilient_requests('get', SITE_URL + '/ping')
 
-    def find(self, query, keyword=None, ids=None, max_matches=MAX_MATCHES, matches_per_page=MATCHES_PER_PAGE):
+    def find(self, query, keyword=None, ids=None, max_matches=MAX_MATCHES, matches_per_page=MATCHES_PER_PAGE, format=str):
         """
         Search function for the hepdata database. Calls hepdata.net search function.
 
         :param query: string passed to hepdata.net search function. See advanced search tips at hepdata.net.
         :param keyword: filters return dictionary for given keyword. Exact match is first attempted, otherwise partial match is accepted.
         :param ids: accepts one of ("arxiv", "inspire", "hepdata").
+        :param max_matches: maximum number of matches to return. Default is 10,000.
+        :param matches_per_page: number of matches per page. Default is 10.
+        :param format: specifies the return format if 'ids' is specified. Allowed formats are: str, list, set, tuple. Default is str.
 
-        :return: returns a list of (filtered if 'keyword' is specified) dictionaries for the search matches. If 'ids' is specified it instead returns a list of ids as a string.
+        :return: returns a list of (filtered if 'keyword' is specified) dictionaries for the search matches. If 'ids' is specified it instead returns a list of ids in the format 'format'.
         """
         find_results = []
         for counter in range(int(max_matches / matches_per_page)):
@@ -53,7 +56,7 @@ def find(self, query, keyword=None, ids=None, max_matches=MAX_MATCHES, matches_p
                 # return full list of dictionary
                 find_results += data['results']
             else:
-                assert ids in [None, "arxiv", "inspire", "hepdata", "id"], "allowd ids are: arxiv, inspire and hepdata"
+                assert ids in [None, "arxiv", "inspire", "hepdata", "id"], "allowed ids are: arxiv, inspire and hepdata"
                 if ids is not None:
                     if ids == "hepdata":
                         ids = "id"
@@ -76,7 +79,14 @@ def find(self, query, keyword=None, ids=None, max_matches=MAX_MATCHES, matches_p
         if ids is None:
             return find_results
         else:
-            return ' '.join(find_results)
+            if format==str:
+                return ' '.join(find_results)
+            elif format==list:
+                return find_results
+            elif format in (set, tuple):
+                return format(find_results)
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(f"Cannot return results in specfied format: {format}. Allowed formats are: {str}, {list}, {set}, {tuple}.")
 
     def download(self, id_list, file_format=None, ids=None, table_name='', download_dir='./hepdata-downloads'):
         """
@@ -145,14 +155,14 @@ def _build_urls(self, id_list, file_format, ids, table_name):
         """
         Builds urls for download and fetch_names, given the specified parameters.
         
-        :param id_list: list of ids to download.
+        :param id_list: list of ids to download. Format is tuple, list, set or space-separated string.
         :param file_format: accepts one of ('csv', 'root', 'yaml', 'yoda', 'yoda1', 'yoda.h5', 'json').
         :param ids: accepts one of ('inspire', 'hepdata').
         :param table_name: restricts download to specific tables.
         
         :return: dictionary mapping id to url.
         """
-        if type(id_list) not in (tuple, list):
+        if isinstance(id_list, str):
             id_list = id_list.split()
         assert len(id_list) > 0, 'Ids are required.'
         assert file_format in ALLOWED_FORMATS, f"allowed formats are: {ALLOWED_FORMATS}"
diff --git a/hepdata_cli/version.py b/hepdata_cli/version.py
index 493f741..260c070 100644
--- a/hepdata_cli/version.py
+++ b/hepdata_cli/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "0.3.0"
+__version__ = "0.3.1"
diff --git a/tests/test_download.py b/tests/test_download.py
index 50ceb3f..4e834f8 100644
--- a/tests/test_download.py
+++ b/tests/test_download.py
@@ -38,13 +38,23 @@ def cleanup(directory):
 
 test_api_download_arguments = [
     (["73322"], "json", "hepdata", ''),
-    (["1222326", "1694381", "1462258", "1309874"], "csv", "inspire", ''),
+    ("1222326 1694381 1462258 1309874", "csv", "inspire", ''), # str
+    (["1222326", "1694381", "1462258", "1309874"], "csv", "inspire", ''), # list
+    ({"1222326", "1694381", "1462258", "1309874"}, "csv", "inspire", ''), # set
+    (("1222326", "1694381", "1462258", "1309874"), "csv", "inspire", ''), # tuple
     (["61434"], "yaml", "hepdata", "Table1"),
     (["1762350"], "yoda", "inspire", "Number density and Sum p_T pT>0.15 GeV/c"),
     (["2862529"], "yoda.h5", "inspire", "95% CL upper limit on XSEC times BF"),
     (["2862529"], "yoda.h5", "inspire", '')
 ]
 
+test_api_find_download_arguments = [
+    ("json", "hepdata", str),
+    ("csv",  "inspire", list),
+    ("json", "inspire", set),
+    ("csv",  "hepdata",   tuple),
+]
+
 test_cli_download_arguments = [
     (["2862529"], "json", "inspire", ''),
     (["1222326", "1694381", "1462258", "1309874"], "root", "inspire", ''),
@@ -54,18 +64,29 @@ def cleanup(directory):
 
 # api testing
 
+def download_and_test(client, id_list, file_format, ids, table, test_download_dir):
+    path_map = client.download(id_list, file_format, ids, table, test_download_dir)
+    file_paths = [fp for fps in path_map.values() for fp in fps]
+    assert len(os.listdir(test_download_dir)) > 0
+    assert all(os.path.exists(fp) for fp in file_paths)
+    cleanup(test_download_dir)
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("id_list, file_format, ids, table", test_api_download_arguments)
 def test_api_download(id_list, file_format, ids, table):
     test_download_dir = './.pytest_downloads/'
     mkdir(test_download_dir)
     assert len(os.listdir(test_download_dir)) == 0
     client = Client(verbose=True)
-    path_map = client.download(id_list, file_format, ids, table, test_download_dir)
-    file_paths = [fp for fps in path_map.values() for fp in fps]
-    assert len(os.listdir(test_download_dir)) > 0
-    assert all(os.path.exists(fp) for fp in file_paths)
-    cleanup(test_download_dir)
+    download_and_test(client, id_list, file_format, ids, table, test_download_dir)
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("file_format, ids, format", test_api_find_download_arguments)
+def test_api_find_download(file_format, ids, format):
+    test_download_dir = './.pytest_downloads/'
+    mkdir(test_download_dir)
+    assert len(os.listdir(test_download_dir)) == 0
+    client = Client(verbose=True)
+    id_list = client.find('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ"', ids=ids, format=format)
+    download_and_test(client, id_list, file_format, ids, '', test_download_dir)
 
 # cli testing
 
diff --git a/tests/test_search.py b/tests/test_search.py
index ccf5633..82f89d7 100644
--- a/tests/test_search.py
+++ b/tests/test_search.py
@@ -4,16 +4,19 @@
 
 from click.testing import CliRunner
 
-from hepdata_cli.api import Client
+from hepdata_cli.api import Client, MAX_MATCHES, MATCHES_PER_PAGE
 from hepdata_cli.cli import cli
 
 
 # arguments for testing
 
 test_api_find_arguments = [
-    ('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ X"', None, None),
-    ('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ"', 'year', None),
-    ('phrases:"(diffractive AND elastic)"', None, 'arxiv'),
+    ('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ X"', None, None, None),
+    ('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ"', 'year', None, None),
+    ('phrases:"(diffractive AND elastic)"', None, 'arxiv', str),
+    ('phrases:"(diffractive AND elastic)"', None, 'hepdata', list),
+    ('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ X"', None, 'arxiv', set),
+    ('reactions:"P P --> LQ LQ X"', None, 'inspire', tuple),
 ]
 
 test_cli_find_arguments = [
@@ -24,17 +27,16 @@
 
 # api test
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("query, keyword, ids", test_api_find_arguments)
-def test_api_find(query, keyword, ids):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("query, keyword, ids, format", test_api_find_arguments)
+def test_api_find(query, keyword, ids, format):
     client = Client(verbose=True)
-    search_result = client.find(query, keyword, ids)
+    search_result = client.find(query, keyword, ids, format=format)
     if ids is None:
         assert type(search_result) is list
         if len(search_result) > 0:
             assert all([type(entry) is dict for entry in search_result])
     else:
-        assert type(search_result) is str
-
+        assert type(search_result) is format
 
 # cli testing