What is IEEE Style? Guide to Numbered Citations, Formatting & Reference Lists
Understand the IEEE citation system used in engineering and computer science. Learn how to use numbered references, format your citations, and follow IEEE rules for research papers and technical reports.
What is IEEE Style?
IEEE Style is a numbered referencing system developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It is widely used in engineering, computer science, and technical disciplines. Each citation in the text corresponds to a number in a sequential reference list.
In-Text Citation Example
Wireless sensor networks have become essential in modern IoT systems [1].
Reference List Example
[1] J. K. Author, Title of the Book, 2nd ed. New York, NY, USA: Wiley, 2019.
Key Features of IEEE Referencing
- Numbered Citations: References are numbered in order of appearance, not alphabetically.
- Compact Format: Minimal in-text citation detail for easy reading.
- Technical Consistency: Standardized across IEEE publications.
IEEE Style Best Practices
- Use square brackets for in-text citations.
- List all authors unless there are more than six; then use 'et al.'
- Include DOI or URL for online sources when available.
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