EJournals

EJournals, or electronic journals, are periodical publications issued in digital form and accessed primarily over computer networks, most commonly the Internet. They encompass scholarly, professional, and literary content and are usually distributed in formats such as HTML and PDF. Articles are often assigned digital object identifiers (DOIs) to support citation and linking.

History: With the expansion of the Internet in the late 20th century, many journals moved from print to digital-first or digital-only models. Over time, online platforms, manuscript submission systems, and web hosting enabled rapid dissemination, wider audiences, and new business models.

Content and access: EJournals support peer review, editorial workflows, and supplementary materials. Access models range from paywalled subscriptions to open access, with licensing under Creative Commons or traditional rights arrangements. Institutions frequently subscribe, while individuals may pay per article or access via library credentials.

Discovery and preservation: Metadata standards, DOIs, and Crossref help discoverability. Indexing in databases and aggregators increases visibility. Long-term preservation relies on digital archiving initiatives such as LOCKSS and CLOCKSS to maintain access even if a publisher stops operations.

Impact and challenges: Electronic journals have accelerated scholarly communication, enabling faster publication cycles and global reach. Challenges include sustaining funding, ensuring robust preservation, managing licensing and copyright, dealing with counterfeit or pirated content, and maintaining metadata quality and interoperability across platforms.