Referenca

Referenca is a term used in several languages to denote a citation or reference to information or a source. In scholarly contexts it refers to an item in a bibliography or to an in-text citation that points to a corresponding entry. The function of a referenca is to credit authors, allow readers to locate sources, and support claims with verifiable evidence. Good referenca practice reduces plagiarism and improves transparency in research and writing.

A referenca typically includes bibliographic details such as author, title, publication venue, year, and identifiers like a DOI or URL. In-text referenca take forms such as parenthetical citations or footnotes, and cross-references connect parts of a document (figures, sections). The accuracy and completeness of each referenca are essential for reliable scholarly communication.

Referencing styles govern the organization and punctuation of referenca. Major systems include APA, MLA, Chicago, and Vancouver. Each style prescribes the order of information, punctuation, and how to format multiple authors, editors, or volumes. In addition to traditional print sources, referenca now commonly includes digital items, such as online articles, ebooks, and datasets, often with persistent identifiers like DOIs or stable URLs.

Digital tools and workflows support referenca management. Reference managers (for example, Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) help collect, organize, and format referenca consistently. Best practices emphasize verifying source details, using the most stable version of a reference, applying a single style throughout a document, and distinguishing primary from secondary sources to maintain scholarly rigor. In information systems, referenca also encompasses internal cross-referencing within documents and databases to aid navigation and data retrieval.