Revista

Revista is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote a periodical publication that appears regularly and contains articles, essays, interviews, reviews, and other written material. It can also refer to a military or ceremonial inspection, as in a parade, though in everyday use the primary sense is literary or scholarly.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from historical senses of reviewing or inspecting, and in Iberian languages it adopted the meaning of a regularly published collection of writings. In contemporary use, revista typically means a magazine or journal, while a newspaper is usually termed a periodical or periódico. The phrase revista científica refers to a peer‑reviewed scholarly journal; revista literaria designates a literary magazine. The term can also appear in phrases such as revista de prensa (press review) or revista general (general-interest magazine).

History and development: The idea of periodical publications grew in Europe from the early modern era, with literary, scientific, and political journals expanding in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions, revistas became important vehicles for culture, criticism, and information, spanning general-audience magazines, scientific journals, and specialized trade titles. The rise of digital publishing has transformed access and distribution, leading to online revistas, open-access models, and new forms of multimedia content.

Structure and types: General-interest revistas mix essays, reportage, fiction, and interviews; literary magazines focus on poetry and fiction; scientific revistas publish original research and reviews; trade and professional revistas address industry news and standards. Distinctions with periódicos (newspapers) lie mainly in frequency, length, and emphasis on analysis and feature content rather than daily reporting.

Bibliographic aspects: Revista titles are typically cataloged with an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN). They are indexed by literary, scientific, or regional databases and can be distributed in print, online, or in hybrid formats.