Free tool · Writing & publishing
Citation generator
Paste a DOI and get a formatted reference in four styles, ready to copy or export to your reference manager.
Paste a DOI and this tool fetches the article’s record from Crossref, then writes the reference in APA 7, IEEE, Harvard and Vancouver. It also gives BibTeX for LaTeX and an RIS file for Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote. There’s no sign-up, and it takes a few seconds per reference.
It works best for journal articles, conference papers and book chapters that have a DOI. Check the output against your style guide before it goes into your thesis, as you would with any generator.
Method
How this tool works
A DOI is a permanent identifier that the publisher registers for each article. Most journals register theirs with Crossref, which keeps the metadata: title, authors, journal, year, volume, issue, pages and publisher. The tool sends your DOI to Crossref’s public API from your own browser, reads those fields and formats them. Nothing passes through our server.
The styles differ most in how they handle authors:
- APA 7: lists up to 20 authors. With 21 or more, it gives the first 19, an ellipsis, then the last author.
- IEEE: lists up to six authors. With more, it gives the first author followed by et al.
- Harvard (Cite Them Right): lists up to three authors. From four, it gives the first author followed by et al.
- Vancouver: lists the first six authors, then et al.
Journal titles and volume numbers are italicised where the style asks for it. The copy button puts both formatted and plain text on the clipboard, so the italics survive when you paste into Word. For the rules behind each style, see citation styles compared, the APA 7 guide and the IEEE guide.
Limits
What this tool can’t do
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the reference 100% correct?
A generated reference is as accurate as the publisher’s record, so check three things every time: the capitalisation of the title, the journal abbreviation for IEEE or Vancouver, and whether the page range or article number is present. Those are where publisher records most often differ from the style guide.
Can I cite a book or thesis without a DOI?
Not with this tool, because it needs a Crossref record. Type the details into Zotero or Mendeley instead, or follow the examples in the citation styles guide. For a thesis on Shodhganga, cite the Shodhganga handle URL.
How do I import the RIS file into Zotero or Mendeley?
Download the RIS file, then in Zotero choose File, then Import, and pick the file. In Mendeley Reference Manager, use File, then Import, and choose RIS. The record arrives with all its fields, so the reference manager can format it in any style. Our Zotero vs Mendeley guide helps if you haven’t picked one yet.
Which style should my thesis use?
The one your university or department prescribes. Many Indian universities leave it to the discipline: APA in the social sciences and management, IEEE in engineering, Vancouver in medicine. Whatever you choose, use one style throughout. The citation styles guide compares them side by side.
Is my search stored?
No. Your browser sends the DOI straight to Crossref. We only record that the tool was used, not what you looked up.
Keep reading
Related guides and services
Citation styles compared: Harvard, Vancouver, Chicago, MLA
Which fields use which style, side-by-side examples, and how to switch styles safely.
Zotero vs Mendeley for your thesis
How the two compare for a long thesis, and the habits that prevent broken citations.
APA 7 formatting guide for theses
In-text citations, reference examples, headings, tables and figures — the APA 7 rules scholars get wrong.
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