References
Synonyms: Bibliographic References, Reference List, Literature, Literature List, Works Cited
Meaning
References is a structured list of works cited in a scientific work.
It is usually described as the outgoing references to other cited works appearing in the reference list.
In JabRef, a bibliography usually corresponds to a .bib file (BibTeX or BibLaTeX format) that stores all entries used for citation and reference management.
Delimitation (Scope and Exclusions)
A bibliography is not the same as:
- a citation, which is an in-text reference to a work;
- a library, which stores physical or digital documents;
- a database connection, which may serve as a data source for bibliographic information but is not itself a bibliography.
Validity
Applicable to all contexts in which bibliographic metadata is collected, organized, and exported — independent of citation style (BibTeX, BibLaTeX, CSL, etc.) or output format (PDF, HTML, DOCX).
Valid both for local files and online collections managed through JabRef integrations.
Naming and Uniqueness
Each bibliography is typically represented by a file path or project identifier. Within a bibliography, every citation key (BibTeX key) must be unique to ensure unambiguous citation references.
Open Issues / Uncertainties
The distinction between references, bibliography and database may vary across user communities.