IEEE Citation Generator
Build accurate IEEE references from a URL, DOI, or ISBN — numbered entries and square-bracket in-text numbers, formatted in seconds. Free, and built for engineering and computer science writing.
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How to cite in IEEE
IEEE is the citation style of electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, and signal processing. It is a numeric style: each source gets a number in square brackets in the text — [1] — and a matching entry in a numbered reference list at the end of the paper. Numbers are assigned in the order sources first appear, and you reuse a source's original number every time you cite it again.
In the reference list, authors are listed initials first, then surname (A. Goldstein). Article and chapter titles go in double quotation marks, while journal and conference names are italicized and abbreviated (J. Cogn. Dev.). The list is numbered by order of first citation — not alphabetized — so the in-text numbers and the back-of-paper entries always line up.
Paste a link, DOI, or ISBN into the generator above and it assembles the brackets, labels, italics, and DOI prefix for you. For the complete rules, worked examples for every source type, and the common mistakes reviewers flag, read the full IEEE citation guide. Related reading: how to cite a journal article, Vancouver (the numeric sibling), and in-text citations.
Need a different style, or just exploring? The same tool covers APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, and AMA from the free citation generator homepage.
IEEE Citation Generator FAQs
What does an IEEE in-text citation look like?
An IEEE in-text citation is just a number in square brackets, such as [1], placed where the source supports your claim. Numbers are assigned in the order sources first appear, and you reuse a source's original number every time you cite it again. Several sources at once render as [1], [2], [3]; consecutive runs may be compressed to [1]–[3].
How does this IEEE citation generator order the reference list?
The reference list is numbered in order of first citation, not alphabetically. The first source you cite becomes reference 1, the next new source becomes reference 2, and so on. Every numbered entry must be cited at least once in the body. See the IEEE guide for the full mechanics.
Does the generator abbreviate journal and conference names?
IEEE italicizes and abbreviates journal and conference names — for example, Journal of Cognitive Development becomes J. Cogn. Dev. The generator italicizes the container automatically but does not auto-abbreviate. Paste the IEEE short form into the journal field, or edit the title after generation. When in doubt, use ISO 4 conventions or the full name.
Are DOIs included in IEEE references?
Yes, when one is available. IEEE appends a DOI in the compact form doi: 10.xxxx/xxxxx. — lowercase prefix, a space after the colon, and a terminal period, with no https://. For online sources without a DOI, the entry carries an [Online]. Available: URL and an Accessed: date instead.
How is IEEE different from Vancouver?
Both are numeric citation-sequence styles, but the typography differs: IEEE uses square brackets [1] while Vancouver uses parentheses (1); IEEE italicizes journal names and Vancouver does not; and IEEE lists authors initials-first (A. Goldstein) while Vancouver puts the surname first (Goldstein A). Compare them in the IEEE and Vancouver guides.