publicationstatus

Publication status is a label used in publishing workflows and metadata to describe where a work stands in the process of being made public. It applies to scholarly articles, books, datasets, and other outputs, and is distinct from access rights or licensing. The status informs readers, indexers, and automated systems about the availability and form of the material.

Common statuses include submitted, under review, accepted, in press, published, online first or early view, withdrawn, retracted, embargoed, and closed. Many systems also differentiate versions such as preprint, author accepted manuscript, and version of record. Some works may be labeled draft, rejected, or suspended. In addition, terms like “online first” or “early view” indicate material that is available before the final issue is compiled.

In metadata, publication status is recorded to support discovery, filtering, and alerts. Systems often employ a controlled vocabulary or ontology to standardize terms, and include associated dates (submission, decision, publication) and links to the relevant version. This facilitates accurate indexing and user communication about the work’s current form.

Publication status should not be confused with access status, which describes whether the work is openly accessible and under what license. Statuses evolve with the publication process, so systems should update the label when milestones are reached and maintain links to prior and subsequent versions. Clear, standardized status information improves transparency, discoverability, and scholarly trust.