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ISO 690

ISO 690 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that establishes principles, guidelines, and requirements for creating bibliographic references and citations to various information resources, including monographs, serials, electronic resources, datasets, patents, artworks, and social media content.^[1] The standard, currently in its fourth edition as ISO 690:2021, aims to ensure that citations are deterministic, machine-parseable, and applicable across languages and scripts, serving as a flexible framework for developing citation styles while excluding legal citations such as court cases or statutes, which vary by jurisdiction.^[1] It applies to non-bibliographic works that integrate information from multiple sources or reference such sources, promoting consistency in scholarly and professional communication worldwide.^[1] The history of ISO 690 traces back to its first edition in 1975, which focused on essential and supplementary elements for bibliographical references to published monographs and serials.^[2] The second edition, released in 1987, expanded to specify elements for references to chapters, articles, and contributions within publications, as well as to non-published materials like patents and manuscripts.^[3] In 1997, the standard was split into two parts—ISO 690 for general references and ISO 690-2 for electronic documents or parts thereof—but these were merged in the third edition of 2010, which provided unified guidelines for bibliographic references and citations primarily in Latin scripts.^[4] The 2021 edition represents a significant update, broadening applicability to all types of information resources, emphasizing multilingual support, and incorporating modern digital formats to address evolving needs in information documentation.^[1] Key aspects of ISO 690 include detailed rules for formatting elements such as authors, titles, publication dates, and access information, with options for both in-text citations and reference lists.^[4] It supports the creation of references that are adaptable to specific styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago, while prioritizing interoperability for digital tools and databases.^[1] Unlike prescriptive style guides, ISO 690 functions as a foundational set of principles rather than a rigid data model, allowing national or institutional adaptations without specifying exact punctuation or ordering beyond core requirements.^[1] This approach has made it influential in academic publishing, library cataloging, and international research collaboration.^[4]

Overview

Scope and Purpose

ISO 690 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) within the field of information and documentation.^[1] It establishes a set of principles and practical guidelines for the creation of bibliographic references and citations to information resources in non-bibliographical works, whether written or electronic.^[5] The primary purpose of the standard is to ensure consistency, clarity, and retrievability of sources by providing rules for their content, form, and structure, thereby supporting the accurate identification and access of referenced materials across diverse contexts.^[1] The scope of ISO 690 encompasses a wide range of information resources, including monographs, serials, patents, cartographic materials, artworks, performances, electronic resources such as datasets and databases, music, recordings, prints, photographs, audiovisual materials, archival sources, and moving images.^[5] It applies to both bibliographic references in lists and citations within the body of non-bibliographical works, promoting a deterministic and machine-parseable approach that allows for unique mapping to source elements and configurable styles.^[1] However, the standard excludes prescriptions for the full layout or typography of references, as well as legal citations like cases or statutes, which vary by jurisdiction, and it does not evaluate the acceptability or risks associated with citing certain resources, such as social media content.^[5] In the realm of scholarly communication, ISO 690 plays a crucial role by facilitating the precise attribution of intellectual contributions and enabling the global verification of sources through standardized practices.^[1] By harmonizing diverse national and regional citation conventions into a unified international framework, the standard addresses the challenges posed by varying traditional methods, ensuring interoperability and reliability in an increasingly digital and multilingual information environment.^[5]

Key Features

ISO 690:2021 provides a flexible framework for bibliographic referencing, allowing adaptations to national or institutional conventions while adhering to core principles such as metadata accuracy and resource retrievability. Unlike rigid styles like APA, which prescribe specific punctuation and formatting, ISO 690 functions primarily as a set of guidelines that permit variations in delimiters and separators to suit different citation systems.^[1] This configurability ensures the standard can be tailored for diverse applications without compromising the essential goal of clear source identification.^[6] The standard supports multiple languages and scripts by recommending the use of conventional indicators from the relevant linguistic traditions, extending beyond its foundational Latin script guidelines to accommodate transliteration where necessary. It emphasizes inclusivity for modern media, encompassing traditional formats like books and journals alongside emerging ones such as digital objects, datasets, audiovisual materials, and software, with a strong focus on persistent identifiers like DOIs and URLs to enhance accessibility.^[1] The 2021 edition particularly strengthens provisions for electronic resources, including web archives and social media.^[7] ISO 690 offers options for various citation systems, including numeric and author-date approaches, presented as a deterministic, machine-parseable model that can be implemented across languages. It prioritizes completeness by requiring essential elements for unambiguous source identification, such as creator names, titles, and publication details, while allowing optional enhancements for greater precision based on the resource type and context. In contrast to purely author-date systems that may emphasize brevity, ISO 690 underscores detailed bibliographic entries to support long-term retrieval and scholarly integrity.^[6]

History

Early Development

The first edition of ISO 690, published in September 1975 and titled Documentation — Bibliographical references — Essential and supplementary elements, established foundational guidelines for creating bibliographic references to monographic and serial publications.^[2] This eight-page standard specified essential and supplementary elements to ensure uniformity in documenting sources, thereby replacing varied national and ad-hoc practices that had previously hindered consistent international exchange of scholarly information.^[2] Developed by ISO Technical Committee 46 (TC 46) on Information and Documentation, it responded to the growing volume of global publishing and the resulting need for harmonized reference formats across borders.^[8] ISO 690:1975 emerged from collaborative efforts within TC 46, which coordinated input from national standards bodies to address inconsistencies in bibliographic conventions prevalent in the mid-20th century.^[8] The standard's creation reflected broader post-World War II initiatives in standardization, including liaisons with international library organizations that influenced basic reference structures for printed materials.^[9] At its inception, the focus remained on print-based resources such as books and periodicals, with no provisions for emerging non-print or electronic formats, limiting its applicability to traditional documentation.^[2] The second edition, released in August 1987 and retitled Documentation — Bibliographic references — Content, form and structure, introduced technical refinements to the reference framework while expanding scope to include patent documents.^[3] This 11-page update specified the order, presentation, and transcription conventions for elements in references to monographs, serials, chapters, articles, and patents, building directly on the 1975 foundation.^[10] It cancelled and replaced not only the first edition but also the separate ISO 3388:1977 standard, which had exclusively covered bibliographic references for patents, thereby consolidating related guidelines under a single framework.^[11] Like its predecessor, this edition prioritized print and basic non-print forms but offered no dedicated rules for digital resources.^[10]

Major Revisions

In 1997, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced ISO 690-2 as a companion standard to address bibliographic references for electronic documents and resources, emphasizing elements such as access dates, URLs, and metadata to ensure online accessibility and proper documentation of digital materials.^[12]^[13] The third edition of ISO 690, published in 2010, unified the previous ISO 690:1987 (for general documents) and ISO 690-2:1997 (for electronic resources) into a single comprehensive standard, incorporating technical revisions to expand guidelines for citations in Latin scripts and to include rules for non-print media such as electronic monographs, serials, and multimedia.^[4]^[14] This merger addressed the growing integration of digital and traditional resources, providing consistent formatting for bibliographic references across all information types while maintaining applicability to non-bibliographical works.^[4] The fourth edition, released in 2021, technically revised the 2010 version to better accommodate the proliferation of digital content, with key enhancements including substantially extended guidelines for electronic resources, mandatory inclusion of persistent identifiers (PIDs) such as DOIs for stable linking, and explicit support for Harvard (name/date) and numeric citation systems alongside options for "Name tag," "Continuous notes," and "Connected (implied)" citations.^[1]^[6] Additional updates emphasized the specification of contributor roles (e.g., author, editor) with optional parentheses for clarity, and incorporated provisions for permalinks and web archives to handle evolving online environments.^[1]^[6] These changes underscore a shift toward greater digital inclusivity, particularly in data citation and metadata handling, which prior editions had only partially covered.^[1] The revision process for these editions has been led by ISO Technical Committee 46 (TC 46), Information and documentation, specifically Subcommittee SC 9 on Identification and description, which incorporates stakeholder feedback to adapt the standard to digital proliferation and emerging needs in data citation.^[15]^[1] This committee-driven approach ensures ongoing relevance by integrating input from international experts on technological advancements in resource dissemination.^[15]

Citation Methods

In-Text Citations

ISO 690:2021 outlines methods for in-text citations that allow authors to attribute sources within the body of a document while preserving readability. These citations serve to identify and locate referenced information resources, linking to a complete list of bibliographic references. The standard supports multiple systems to suit different disciplinary and publishing needs, including the author-date system (also known as Harvard), the numeric system, running notes (such as footnotes or endnotes), and connected or implied citations where contextual details suffice without formal markers.^[1]^[16] In the author-date system, citations are integrated inline, either parenthetically as (Smith 2020) or narratively as "Smith (2020) argues...". The numeric system employs sequential numbers assigned in the order of appearance, formatted in square brackets ^[17] or as superscripts¹, with numbering restarting from 1 if multiple lists are used within a document. Placement occurs immediately after the cited material, typically at the end of a sentence or phrase, to clearly associate the citation with the relevant content; for numeric systems, numbers remain consistent throughout the document unless a new section requires renumbering. Running notes appear as superscript numbers calling to footnotes or endnotes, while connected citations rely on narrative context, such as mentioning the source's title or author without additional symbols.^[1]^[18] For handling multiple authors in author-date and notes systems, up to three authors are listed fully on first mention (e.g., Smith, Jones and Brown 2020), but for four or more, only the first author is named followed by "et al." (e.g., Smith et al. 2020). In subsequent citations, the same abbreviated form applies. Corporate authors are treated similarly, using the organization's full name if brief (e.g., International Organization for Standardization 2021) or an established abbreviation after initial use if the name is lengthy (e.g., ISO 2021 thereafter).^[19]^[20] Direct quotations in any system must include a specific locator, such as a page number, to pinpoint the exact source material (e.g., Smith 2020, p. 45), ensuring traceability and avoiding misattribution. Paraphrases or summaries, by contrast, require only the basic citation elements like author and year (e.g., Smith 2020), without locators unless ambiguity arises. This distinction promotes accuracy while minimizing disruption to the text's flow.^[1]^[16] The 2021 revision of ISO 690 explicitly positions the author-date (Harvard) and numeric systems as preferred approaches, offering streamlined guidelines for their use across print and digital media, while retaining flexibility for notes-based and connected systems to support varied academic and professional contexts.^[1]^[21] Unlike full bibliographic references, which detail all elements such as titles, editions, and access dates, in-text citations are concise by design to integrate smoothly into prose and avoid cluttering the narrative; they depend on the accompanying reference list for comprehensive source verification. These abbreviated forms directly correspond to entries in the bibliographic references, enabling readers to cross-reference efficiently.^[1]

Bibliographic References

The bibliographic references in ISO 690 form a comprehensive list at the end of a document, enabling readers to locate and verify the cited information resources with precision. This list compiles all sources referenced in the text, adhering to uniform principles that prioritize clarity, consistency, and retrievability, regardless of the chosen citation system.^[1] The standard emphasizes that the reference list should facilitate independent access to sources, treating it as an integral component of scholarly and professional communication.^[6] Organization of the reference list depends on the citation system employed. In author-date systems, such as Harvard, entries are arranged alphabetically by the surname of the primary creator or, if unavailable, by the first significant element like the title.^[18] For numeric systems, the list follows a sequential order based on the first appearance of citations in the text, assigning numbers that correspond directly to in-text markers.^[22] This consistent sequencing ensures logical flow and ease of navigation, applying uniformly across all entries irrespective of resource type.^[1] Each reference entry must be complete enough to allow unambiguous location of the source, including all essential metadata verified from the resource itself or reliable external databases.^[6] Where data is optional, estimated, or supplied by the citer (such as an approximate publication date), it is enclosed in square brackets to distinguish it from original information, promoting transparency and accuracy.^[18] Incomplete entries undermine the purpose of the list, so the standard mandates thoroughness to support scholarly integrity.^[1] Punctuation and layout adopt a minimalist approach to enhance readability and accessibility, relying primarily on commas, colons, full stops, and periods to separate elements without ornate conventions.^[22] While no mandatory typographic emphasis is required, the use of italics for titles of standalone works is recommended to distinguish them clearly, with flexible line spacing and hanging indents permitted for visual structure.^[18] This restrained style avoids unnecessary complexity, favoring plain text where possible.^[1] The reference list is typically positioned at the document's end under headings such as "References" or "Bibliography," serving as a centralized repository for all citations.^[6] Subdivision may occur by resource category, theme, or chronology if the document's scope warrants it, though a single unified list is preferred for simplicity.^[22] This placement ensures seamless integration with the main content, where in-text citations—whether by author-year or numeric identifier—directly link to corresponding entries in the list.^[18] The 2021 edition of ISO 690 introduces enhancements reflecting the prevalence of digital resources, placing greater emphasis on including access dates for online or dynamic content to capture its temporal state at the time of consultation.^[1] Additionally, it refines role specifications for contributors, such as denoting editors explicitly in parentheses, to clarify contributions and improve metadata precision in collaborative works.^[6] These updates align the standard with contemporary information practices while maintaining its core focus on reliable bibliographic compilation.^[22]

Elements and Formatting

Core Elements

The core elements of bibliographic references in ISO 690:2021 form the foundational components required for all resource types, ensuring consistency and completeness in citations. These elements are presented in a specified order to facilitate clear identification and retrieval of sources, with provisions for handling missing information. The standard emphasizes the use of persistent identifiers where available to enhance accessibility, particularly for digital resources.^[1] The primary creator element identifies the person, organization, or group principally responsible for the resource. For personal names, the format is "Surname, Forename Initials" (e.g., Smith, J. A.), with up to three authors listed fully and "et al." used for more than three to avoid lengthy references. Corporate authors are rendered as their full official name (e.g., World Health Organization), treated as a single entity. Roles such as editor or translator may be indicated in square brackets if relevant to the citation's context (e.g., [editor]).^[1] The title element includes the main title of the resource, followed by any subtitle separated by a colon, preserving the original language and script unless a translation is provided (in which case, the original is noted). For contributions within a larger container—such as articles in journals—the container title (e.g., journal name) is rendered in italics to distinguish it from the main title. This ensures the resource's content is accurately represented without alteration.^[1] Edition information is included only if the reference is to a subsequent edition beyond the first, formatted as "nth ed." (e.g., 2nd ed.), or as a version number for software and similar resources. This element helps specify the exact iteration consulted.^[1] Publication details encompass the place of publication (city or equivalent, e.g., London), the publisher's name, and the date (typically the year, or fuller if necessary for clarity). For serial publications like journals, this extends to volume and issue numbers (e.g., Vol. 5, No. 3), often integrated with the date. These details anchor the reference to its production context.^[1] The extent element describes the resource's scope, such as the page range for cited sections (e.g., pp. 45-67) in contributions or the total number of pages for complete monographs (e.g., 250 p.). This provides a measure of the material's scale.^[1] Identifiers include standardized codes like ISBN or ISSN for print resources, DOI for digital or online content, and URLs where applicable. Per ISO 690:2021, persistent identifiers (PIDs) such as DOIs are mandatory when available to ensure long-term access and verifiability. Examples include ISBN 978-0-123456-78-9 or DOI 10.1000/xyz123.^[1] The prescribed order of elements is: creator, title (and container), edition, publication details, extent, and identifiers or location/access information, followed by any notes. Omissions are handled with standardized placeholders, such as [n.p.] for no place of publication, [s.n.] for no publisher or name, or [n.d.] for no date, maintaining the reference's structural integrity even with incomplete data.^[1]

Resource-Specific Guidelines

ISO 690:2021 extends the core bibliographic elements with tailored guidelines for citing diverse resource types, ensuring adaptability across media while maintaining consistency in reference construction. These specifications address unique attributes such as access mechanisms, physical formats, and identifiers that are not applicable to standard print works, integrating them into the overall reference sequence after essential title and responsibility details.^[1] For electronic resources, the standard mandates inclusion of a URL or DOI after the publication details, prefixed with "Available from:" to indicate accessibility. An access date is required for online materials subject to change, formatted as [accessed YYYY-MM-DD], placed at the end of the reference; for instance, dynamic web content might conclude with [accessed 2021-06-15]. File formats are specified in square brackets if relevant to retrieval, such as [PDF] or [MP4], and the 2021 edition introduces support for dataset persistent identifiers (PIDs) like ARK alongside DOIs, as well as version numbers for evolving digital objects (e.g., Version 2.0). These extensions enhance traceability for non-static content, distinguishing electronic citations from static print equivalents.^[1]^[6]^[18] Audiovisual materials and music recordings require designation of the primary creator as the director, producer, or performer, treated analogously to an author in the responsibility element. Duration is appended after the title, expressed in minutes (e.g., 120 min), followed by the medium in square brackets, such as [DVD] or [streaming], and the release date as the publication year. For music, the composer or performer leads the citation, with performance details integrated if applicable, ensuring the reference captures the temporal and physical aspects essential to these formats. The 2021 revision expands these rules to accommodate digital streaming and hybrid media, providing greater detail than prior editions.^[1]^[23]^[18] Patents are cited with the inventor(s) listed first as the creator responsibility, followed by the title, patent number (e.g., US1234567A), and issuing authority (e.g., European Patent Office or United States Patent and Trademark Office). Filing and publication dates are both included, separated by commas, to reflect the patent's legal timeline, with the publication date serving as the primary edition marker. This structure prioritizes legal identifiers and origins, adapting the core elements to the formal documentation of intellectual property.^[1]^[23]^[18] Contributions such as chapters or articles within larger works use the "In:" prefix after the contribution title, followed by the container's responsibility (e.g., editors listed as "ed." or "eds."), title, and publication details, with the page range (e.g., pp. 25-30) inserted before the edition or series information. Editors are enumerated fully if fewer than four, or abbreviated otherwise, ensuring the hierarchical relationship between part and whole is clearly delineated. This method integrates seamlessly with core elements, focusing on locators specific to subdivided publications.^[1]^[18]^[23] Data sets and software follow a similar adaptation, beginning with the creator or organization, title, version (e.g., Version 3.1), and release date, with repository or distributor noted if hosted externally (e.g., Zenodo). License information, such as CC BY 4.0, is optional but recommended for open-access items, placed after access details; for software, system requirements may supplement the medium. The 2021 updates emphasize PIDs and versioning for reproducibility, particularly in research contexts involving datasets.^[1]^[18]^[6] Multilingual works incorporate transliteration for titles in non-Latin scripts, rendered in the reference language, with the original title enclosed in square brackets for clarity (e.g., [Original: Titre original]). Translations are attributed to the translator in the responsibility element if they constitute the cited version, preserving linguistic provenance without altering the core sequence. These provisions support global interoperability in bibliographic practices.^[1]^[23]^[18]

Usage and Adoption

International Implementation

ISO 690 serves as a foundational standard within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) framework, which encompasses 175 member bodies representing national standards organizations from countries worldwide.^[24] Developed and maintained by ISO Technical Committee 46 (TC 46), Information and documentation, specifically Subcommittee 9 (SC 9) on Identification and description, the standard supports the global transfer and organization of information resources, including libraries, archives, and digital repositories.^[8]^[15]^[25] The standard finds direct application in international scholarly and publishing contexts. By establishing a configurable, language-agnostic system for bibliographic references and citations, ISO 690 promotes interoperability, enabling seamless cross-border verification and exchange of scholarly sources in multilingual environments. This is evident in its integration into widely used citation management software, including EndNote's dedicated ISO 690 style for generating compliant bibliographies and Zotero's CSL-based implementations for automated referencing in research workflows.^[5]^[26]^[27] Despite its strengths, ISO 690's inherent flexibility in allowing adaptations for specific needs results in varying levels of compliance among users, as the standard provides guidelines rather than rigid prescriptions. It remains non-mandatory but is recommended for publications aligned with ISO quality management principles, particularly those pursuing certification under related standards like ISO 9001.^[1] The 2021 edition of ISO 690 particularly bolsters its international relevance by emphasizing digital and electronic resources, including datasets and born-digital materials, through deterministic, machine-parseable citation structures that support automated processing in global online scholarship platforms.^[1] This update facilitates broader adoption in cross-cultural academic collaborations, where precise referencing of evolving digital formats is essential. National adaptations may introduce localized variations, but the core standard ensures baseline consistency.^[5]

National Adaptations

National adaptations of ISO 690 involve the adoption and translation of the international standard by national standards bodies, often with minor modifications to accommodate local languages, formatting preferences, or academic conventions while preserving the core principles of bibliographic referencing and citation. In Europe, these adaptations are particularly prevalent, reflecting the standard's alignment with regional harmonization efforts. For instance, Germany's Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) publishes DIN ISO 690:2013-10, which adopts the 2010 edition of the international standard and emphasizes precise punctuation rules for references, such as consistent use of colons and periods in bibliographic entries.^[28] Similarly, the United Kingdom's British Standards Institution (BSI) maintains BS ISO 690:2021, identical to the 2021 international version, and it is commonly referenced in academic guides for preparing citations in works across disciplines.^[29] In Central Europe, the Czech Republic's Český normalizační institut (ČNI) issues ČSN ISO 690:2022, a localized version that includes Czech-language examples and is recommended for academic submissions at institutions like Charles University.^[30] The Baltic states, including Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, also integrate ISO 690 through national technical committees aligned with European norms, promoting its use in higher education and research to ensure consistency with EU directives. Beyond Europe, adaptations extend to other regions with varying degrees of implementation. Spain's Asociación Española de Normalización (UNE) released UNE-ISO 690:2024 in April 2024, a direct translation of the 2021 international standard into Spanish.^[31] In the Asia-Pacific, Australia and New Zealand jointly adopt the standard as AS/NZS ISO 690:2021 via Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, applying it in scholarly publishing without significant alterations beyond regional date formats.^[32] Adoption remains limited in the United States, where field-specific styles like APA and MLA predominate in academia due to their entrenched use in journals and universities, overshadowing ISO 690's more general framework.^[33] These national versions typically retain ISO 690's essential elements, such as author names, titles, publication details, and identifiers, but may introduce language-specific rules—for example, mandatory italics for book and journal titles in the German DIN version to align with typographic norms—or additional guidance on local legal references.^[34] In academic and publishing contexts, these adaptations enforce uniformity; for example, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) requires DIN ISO 690 for theses in engineering and sciences, while EU-funded projects often comply with adapted ISO 690 to ensure interoperability across member states' publications.^[35]

Examples

Print Publications

ISO 690:2021 outlines precise formats for bibliographic references to print publications, emphasizing the inclusion of core elements such as author names in surname-initials order, italicized titles, publication details, and identifiers like ISBN or ISSN, without requiring access dates for non-digital resources.^[1] These formats apply to both numeric and author-date reference list ordering systems, where numeric lists sequence entries by order of citation and author-date lists arrange them alphabetically by author surname and publication year.^[1] For a monograph, such as a printed book, the reference structure prioritizes up to ten authors listed as SURNAME, Initials., followed by the italicized title, edition (if not the first), place of publication, publisher, year, ISBN, and total pages.^[1] In the numeric system, it appears as: ^[17] SMITH, J. Title of Book. 2nd ed. London: Publisher, 2020. ISBN 978-1-234-56789-0. 250 p.^[1] In the author-date system, the same entry is: Smith, J. 2020. Title of Book. 2nd ed. London: Publisher. ISBN 978-1-234-56789-0. 250 p.^[1] More than ten authors are abbreviated with "et al." after the first ten.^[1] Journal articles follow a similar author listing but include the article title (not italicized), italicized journal title, year, volume, issue number, and page range, with ISSN as an optional identifier.^[1] A numeric example is: ^[36] DOE, A. et al. Article title. Journal Name. 2021, vol. 15, no. 3, p. 100-115. ISSN 1234-5678.^[1] The author-date variant reads: Doe, A. et al. 2021. Article title. Journal Name, vol. 15, no. 3, p. 100-115. ISSN 1234-5678.^[1] This ensures traceability for periodical contributions without digital specifics.^[1] Contributions to printed works, like book chapters, specify the chapter author, non-italicized chapter title, the editor's details with "(ed.)" or "(eds.)", the italicized book title, and the chapter's page range.^[1] In numeric form: ^[37] BROWN, C. Chapter title. In: EDITOR, D. (ed.). Book Title. New York: Publisher, 2019. p. 50-70.^[1] The author-date equivalent is: Brown, C. 2019. Chapter title. In: Editor, D., ed. Book Title. New York: Publisher, p. 50-70.^[1] Editors are listed similarly to authors, with the "In:" prefix distinguishing the contribution from the host publication.^[1]

Electronic Resources

ISO 690:2021 provides specific guidelines for citing electronic resources, emphasizing the inclusion of access information and persistent identifiers to account for the dynamic nature of digital content.^[6] These resources encompass webpages, e-books, datasets, and online audiovisual materials, where references must indicate the medium (e.g., [online] or [dataset]) and prioritize stable locators like DOIs over ephemeral URLs.^[6] A key update from the 2010 edition is the mandatory inclusion of access or consultation dates for resources subject to change, formatted as [cited YYYY-MM-DD] or [viewed YYYY-MM-DD], to reflect the date of retrieval.^[6] Persistent identifiers (PIDs) such as DOIs or handles are required where available, ensuring long-term accessibility, while file formats (e.g., PDF) may be noted in parentheses after ISBNs or similar identifiers for e-books.^[6] For webpages, the reference typically includes the organization or author, page title, publication date, access date, and locator. An example is: BBC. COVID-19: What you need to know [online]. 2023 [cited 2025-11-12]. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/coronavirus-123456. DOI: 10.1234/bbc.covid.^[6] E-book citations follow a structure similar to print books but add [online], access details, and digital identifiers. For instance: GARCÍA, María. Digital Libraries in the 21st Century [online]. New York: Academic Press, 2021 [cited 2025-11-12]. ISBN 978-0-12-345678-9 (EPUB). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-345678-9.^[6] Datasets require designation as [dataset], along with version, repository, and PID, with access date for verification. Example: NOAA. Global Temperature Anomalies Dataset [dataset]. Version 4.0. Boulder: National Centers for Environmental Information, 2022 [cited 2025-11-12]. DOI: 10.7289/V5D27TN4.^[6] Online audiovisual resources, such as videos, include the medium type (e.g., [video]), duration if applicable, platform, and access information. A sample reference: TED. The Power of Vulnerability [video]. TED Conferences, 2010 [cited 2025-11-12]. Duration 20 min. Available from: https://www.ted.com/talks/123.[](https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/72642/9eb9e8d76c9545dbb6c5a3e93d78608a/ISO-690-2021.pdf)

Additional Resource Examples

For patents, the reference includes the inventor, title, patent number, issuing authority, and date. Example: [numeric] INVENTOR, A. Title of invention. Patent No. 1234567. European Patent Office, 2021-05-15.^[1] Artworks are cited with creator, title, date, medium, and location. Example: [author-date] PICASSO, Pablo. 1907. Les Demoiselles d'Avignon [painting]. Oil on canvas. Museum of Modern Art, New York.^[1] Social media content requires the creator, post title or description, platform, date, and URL. Example: [numeric] ^[38] USERNAME. Thoughts on climate change [post]. X (formerly Twitter), 2025-11-10 [cited 2025-11-12]. Available from: https://x.com/username/status/123456.[](https://www.iso.org/standard/72642.html)

References

[1]
ISO 690:2021 - Information and documentation
In stockThis document describes a set of principles, guidelines, and requirements for the preparation of bibliographic references and citations in works that are ...
[2]
ISO 690:1975 - Documentation — Bibliographical references
Bibliographical references — Essential and supplementary elements · General information · Life cycle ...
[3]
Documentation — Bibliographic references - ISO 690:1987
Specifies the elements to be included in bibliographic references to published monographs and serials, to chapters, articles, etc. in such publications and ...
[4]
ISO 690:2010 - Information and documentation
ISO 690:2010 gives guidelines for the preparation of bibliographic references. It also gives guidelines for the preparation of citations in Latin scripts.
[5]
https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#!iso:std:72642:en
[6]
[PDF] INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 690
This new edition of ISO 690 aims to address that while formalizing traditional practices. This document describes a set of principles and practical ...
[7]
None
### Summary of ISO 690:2021 Key Features
[8]
ISO/TC 46 - Information and documentation
Standardization of practices relating to libraries, documentation and information centres, publishing, archives, records management, museum documentation.Missing: 690 adoption
[9]
[PDF] ISO/TC46 (Information and Documentation) liaison to IFLA
Aug 5, 2016 · Standards1 developed under ISO/TC46 facilitate access to knowledge and information and standardize automated tools, computer systems, and ...
[10]
[PDF] ISO 690:1987 - iTeh Standards
Aug 15, 1987 · International Standard IS0 690 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 46, Documentation. This second edition cancels and replaces the first ...
[11]
ISO 3388:1977 - Patent documents — Bibliographic references
New version available: ISO 690:1987. General information. Status. : Withdrawn. Publication date. : 1977-04. Stage. : Withdrawal of International Standard [95.99].Missing: second | Show results with:second
[12]
ISO 690-2:1997 - Information and documentation
Bibliographic referencesPart 2: Electronic documents or parts thereof. Withdrawn (Edition 1, 1997).
[13]
[PDF] ISO-690-2-1997.pdf - iTeh Standards
references to these electronic resources in order to document their research. This part of ISO 690 provides guidance on the creation of those bibliographic ...
[14]
[PDF] ISO 690 - Bibliotecas UAI
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition of ISO 690:1987 and the first edition of. ISO 690-2:1997 of which the entire texts have been ...
[15]
ISO/TC 46/SC 9 - Identification and description
Standardization of information identifiers, description and associated metadata and models for use in information organizations (including libraries, museums ...Missing: 690 adoption
[16]
[PDF] NEW CITATION RULES ACCORDING TO ISO 690 2021 - uniza
ISO 690 2021 introduces the Harvard (Name/Date) and Numerical citation systems, along with Name tag, Continuous notes, and Connected (implied) systems.
[17]
[PDF] Source citation. ISO 690:2021 Standard - Universidad de Alicante
Feb 13, 2025 · The complete text of the ISO 690:2021 standard, which attempts to address every possible case when citing information resources, spans more than ...
[18]
[PDF] Examples of documents description using the ISO 690 citation style
If a work has more than three authors, we should present either all of them or only the first one followed by an abbreviation: „et al.“ or “and others” (e.g. ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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ISO 690 style - Biblioteca - UOC
These are the general criteria for citations as per the ISO 690 style. Bibliographic reference; In-text citations. Choose the citation style: APA Style.
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New citation style: ISO 690:2021 - Grafiati
11 feb 2022 · New citation style added: ISO 690:2021. Generate your bibliographic references automatically in accordance with the requirements of ISO ...
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Below is a merged summary of the ISO 690:2021 Guidelines on Bibliographic Reference Lists, consolidating all information from the provided segments into a single, comprehensive response. To maximize detail and clarity, I will use a structured format with a table for key elements and a narrative section for additional details, including URLs. This ensures all information is retained while maintaining readability.
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### Summary of ISO 690:2021 Guidelines for Citing Specific Resource Types
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About ISO
We've come a long way since 1947, and in 2017 we have 163 members and a total of over 21000 standards. Over 70 years the family of ISO standards has grown ...Members · Structure and governance · What we do · Strategy 2030
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Guide for authors - Atmospheric Pollution Research - ISSN 1309-1042
Authors preparing a manuscript for an Elsevier journal can use AI Tools to support them. ... ISO 690 - 2 Information and documentation: Bibliographical references ...
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ISO 690 International Bibliographic Standard - EndNote
- **EndNote Support for ISO 690**: Yes, EndNote supports the ISO 690 style.
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DIN ISO 690 - 2013-10
This International Standard specifies guidelines for the preparation of bibliographic references. It also specifies guidelines for the preparation of citations ...
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BS ISO 690:2021 - TC - BSI Knowledge
Jun 30, 2021 · ISO 690 describes a set of principles, guidelines, and requirements for the preparation of bibliographic references and citations in work that ...Missing: summary | Show results with:summary
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ČSN ISO 690 - All about citations - Citace /FSV UK
Official designation ISO 690: 2020: Information and documentation —Guidelines for bibliographic references and citations to information resources.<|control11|><|separator|>
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UNE-ISO 690:2024 - Asociación Española de Normalización
UNE-ISO 690:2024 Información y documentación. Directrices para la redacción de referencias bibliográficas y de citas de recursos de información.Missing: Spain | Show results with:Spain
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Download AS/NZS ISO 690:2021 In PDF - Australian Standards Store
AS/NZS ISO 690:2021 identically adopts ISO 690:2021 which describes a set of principles, guidelines, and requirements for the preparation of bibliographic ...
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Guides: Citation Styles: APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, IEEE: Overview
Feb 24, 2025 · The citation styles covered are APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, and IEEE. APA is used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences; MLA by Humanities; ...IEEE Style · Turabian 9th · APA 7th Edition · MLA
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[PDF] Reference Lists to DIN ISO 690 - Ernst & Sohn
All examples are based on the standard DIN ISO 690:2013-10, which is internationally recognised for the creation of reference lists for scientific works.
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Writing Hints for Projects and Theses / ISO 690, HAW Hamburg
Jun 15, 2010 · ISO 690 requires the "medium designation" in brackets after the main title (i.e. the title of the book or journal) "if the item is not a print".