Citation (in AI search)
Also: AI citation, source citation
A reference to an external source in an AI-generated answer. Citations may be inline hyperlinks, footnotes, or a sources panel. Engines vary in how they expose citations and which sources they prefer.
Related terms
- AI search
A query interface where the answer is generated by a large language model from cited sources, instead of returned as a list of links. Examples: ChatGPT search, Perplexity, Claude with web search, Google AI Mode.
- Generative Engine Optimization
The practice of structuring web content so generative AI engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini) preferentially cite it when answering user queries. Distinct from traditional SEO, which optimizes for ranked links rather than cited passages.
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