A citation is a brief summary that provides all the necessary data about a book, journal, or website so that someone else can easily find this source on their own.
There are standard formats for citing different types of source materials, like journals, books, and websites. Generally a citation may include all or part of the following pieces of information:
When conducting a literature review, you may gather a variety of citations to journals, books, datasets, technical reports, and professional guidelines. Keeping track of all these resources doesn't have to be overwhelming. Learn how to use citation management software.
What is citation? And why do we do it?
NCSU Libraries. (2014, July 23). Citation: A very short introduction. [Video]. YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMhMuVvXCVw