A citation is a reference to a source used in writing, research, or a project. It gives credit to the original source and helps readers find the material if they want to check it.
What citations can include
A citation may include the author, title, publication date, publisher, page number, journal, website, URL, DOI, or access date depending on the style and source type.
Why citations matter
Citations support academic integrity. They show where evidence came from, reduce plagiarism risk, and make research easier to verify.
Citation styles such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and others use different formats, but the purpose is the same: credit and traceability.