prepublished

Prepublished refers to a work that has been made available to the public before its official formal publication. This can take several forms, the most common being preprint servers, which are online repositories where authors can upload their research papers, typically in a non-peer-reviewed state. The intention behind prepublishing is often to share findings quickly with the scientific community, allowing for early feedback and faster dissemination of knowledge.

Another form of prepublishing can involve a preliminary release of a digital product, such as a video game or software, to a limited audience or for a specific testing period. This allows developers to gather user feedback and identify bugs before a wider, commercial launch. In some contexts, a book might be made available in an e-book format for purchase or download ahead of its scheduled print release. The key characteristic of prepublishing is the anticipation of a subsequent, more formal or widespread publication or release. It is a mechanism for early access and engagement with content that is not yet in its final, widely distributed form.