Citation key

Synonyms: BibTeX key

Meaning

A citation key is a short, unique identifier assigned to a bibliographic entry. It is used in documents (e.g. LaTeX) and tools (e.g. JabRef) to refer to that entry in citations, cross-references, and commands.

Example: LunaOstos2024

Delimitation (Scope and Exclusions)

• It is not the same as:
  • a database primary key,
  • a persistent identifier (DOI, ISBN, URI),
  • a filename.
• It is not globally unique across all users or projects, only within the scope where the bibliography is used.

Validity

• Must be unique within a given bibliography file or project.
• May change if the user renames it or regeneration rules change.
• Not guaranteed to be stable across different tools or imported/exported files unless explicitly preserved.

Naming and Uniqueness

• Allowed characters and format depend on the target system (e.g. BibTeX vs. BibLaTeX) but are typically ASCII without spaces.
• JabRef and similar tools can generate citation keys based on patterns (author, year, title, etc.).
• Uniqueness is usually enforced by the reference manager; collisions must be resolved.

Open Issues / Uncertainties

• No universal standard across all tools and workflows.
• Migration between tools or key-pattern changes can break existing documents if keys are not updated consistently.

Related Terms (Cross-References)

• Bibliography
• Citation