elocation

Elocation, also written as e-location, is a term used in digital publishing to denote a unique identifier for a specific location within an electronic document. It is used to navigate and cite online scholarly articles where traditional page numbers are unavailable or inconsistent due to digital formats. An e-location ID is typically a numeric or alphanumeric string that may be prefixed (for example, eLoc or eLocation) and is assigned to a particular article, section, or even a passage within an online issue or PDF.

Usage in citations: In some citation styles or publisher metadata, the e-location ID accompanies the article's bibliographic information. It can replace or supplement page ranges, helping readers locate the cited material in the online version. The DOI remains a separate, persistent identifier for the work, while the e-location helps locate a precise point within that work when paginated versions are unavailable.

Formats and standardization: There is no universal standard for e-locations. Some publishers publish articles with an article number like e12345, while others use a broader eLocator string. The lack of universal formatting means authors and editors should follow the journal's preferred citation style.

Adoption and limitations: E-locations are common in online-first or online-only journals and in systems that rely on continuous pagination. They improve digital citation accuracy but can create confusion if not consistently applied across databases and citation tools.

See also: DOI, pagination, article number, citation style.