How to Check If a Journal Is Really Indexed: A Complete Verification Guide

Publishing a research paper in an indexed journal can be important for PhD scholars, researchers, faculty members, and students. Many universities and institutions have specific requirements, such as publishing in Scopus indexed journals, Web of Science indexed journals, or other recognized databases.

But it isn't enough to find an “Indexed in Scopus” or “Web of Science” badge on a journal website, to know it is currently indexed.

A journal might have been indexed at one time, but no longer exists, or the website might contain out-of-date information. In some instances, researchers can even find incorrect indexing statements.

So, how to check if a journal is indexed?

This writing guide provides details on checking a journal in the major journal indexing databases, what information to check, and how to determine if a journal is fake or outdated before submitting a research paper.

Why Journal Indexing Matters

What is Journal Indexing?

Journal indexing means that a journal or its published content is included in a particular academic database. These databases catalogue scholarly research and facilitate the discovery, reading and citation of academic papers.

Examples of well-known journal indexing databases are:

• Scopus
• Web of Science
• PubMed/MEDLINE
• DOAJ
• Google Scholar

These databases, however, are not operating in the same way.

As one example, a journal being visible in Google Scholar does not imply that it is indexed in Scopus. Also, the presence of a DOI does not guarantee indexing of a journal in Web of Science.

This is why the researchers should always find out which database indexes the journal.

Why Should Researchers Verify Indexing?

For the following reasons journal indexing might be important:

• PhD and university publication requirements
• Faculty promotion
• Research evaluations
• Academic visibility
• Institutional requirements
• Funding or project requirements
• Research credibility

What would you think if you submitted your paper to a journal and found that the journal's website stated "Scopus Indexed" and later you learned that the journal was no longer being indexed by Scopus? If you submitted a paper to a journal which claimed to be Scopus Indexed, and later learned that it was not being indexed anymore, what would you think?

So it is better to know the current indexing status before submitting, as it will take only a few minutes.

Major Journal Indexing Databases You Should Know

Different databases serve different purposes. Before checking a journal, understand what the database actually represents.

Database	Main purpose	What to verify
Scopus	Abstract and citation database	Source status and coverage
Web of Science	Citation and research database	Exact index collection
PubMed/MEDLINE	Biomedical literature	PubMed/MEDLINE status
DOAJ	Open-access journal directory	Journal's DOAJ record
Google Scholar	Scholarly search and discovery	Article visibility

How to Verify Scopus Indexing?

When choosing a database for a journal, researchers are most likely to select Scopus. That is what gives rise to the widespread search of Scopus indexed journals and Scopus journal indexing.

But don't use a random list that you have found online. The journal has to be checked with the official information of Scopus.

1. Search the Official Scopus Source

Use the official information from Scopus Sources to search for the journal.

Searching is possible with the following options:

• Journal title

• ISSN

• Publisher

• Other source details

Searching by ISSN is typically a good way to search since journal titles may be similar.

2. Check the ISSN

If the website for the journal provides:

ISSN: 1234-5678

Look if the same ISSN is present in the Scopus record.

Also compare:

• Journal title

• eISSN

• Publisher

• Journal subject

Don't shrug off the difference in ISSNs or different titles if the journal is listed in both the journal website and the database.

3. Check the Coverage Status

You have just found the journal in a search related to Scopus; that's just the start.

Additionally, review its years of coverage.

For example:

Scopus coverage: 2018–2024

This means something entirely different than a journal that is covered.

It is possible for a journal to have a historical record of coverage in Scopus without actually being covered at the present time.

Current vs Historical Indexing

Current indexing: The journal is currently covered.

Historical indexing: The journal was indexed in a prior time.

Discontinued: It has been canceled.

Therefore, when checking Scopus indexed journals, don't just ask:

“Is the journal listed?”

Ask:

“What years are covered, and what is its current status?”

How to Verify Web of Science Indexing?

Another well known database is Web of Science, which is used by researchers and academic institutions.

Don't assume that a journal is indexed in Web of Science just because it says it is on the publisher's website.

Look for the journal using the official Master Journal List from Clarivate.

1. Search the Master Journal List

Search using the journal title or ISSN.

Then check the information against the information on the website of the journal.

Check:

• Journal title

• ISSN/eISSN

• Publisher

• Web of Science collection

• Current coverage

2. Check the Exact Index Collection

A key factor in this regard, which is relevant to the discussion of web of science indexed journals, is missing.

Web of Science offers a number of collections including:

• SCIE – Science Citation Index Expanded

• SSCI – Social Sciences Citation Index

• AHCI – Arts & Humanities Citation Index

• ESCI – Emerging Sources Citation Index

Therefore, don't presume that any journal related to Web of Science will be an SCIE indexed journal if your university specifically requests one.

Please always specify the exact collection.

Web of Science Indexing vs Impact Factor

Another common misconception is:

“If a journal is indexed in Web of Science, it must have an Impact Factor.”

That should not be assumed.

The terms "Web of Science coverage" and "Journal Impact Factor" are not synonymous. Be wary of any journal that claims an Impact Factor, and use the correct formula.

How to Verify PubMed/MEDLINE Indexing?

PubMed is a valuable resource for medical, health care, biomedical researchers, and others.

But there is a difference between PubMed indexing and MEDLINE indexing.

PubMed is a huge biomedical literature resource, with MEDLINE being a major curated part of PubMed.

If your university or institution has a specific set of journals that it wants you to access, then do not just look to see if the articles in the journal are indexed in PubMed.

Rather, check the actual status of the journal in MEDLINE.

What should you check?

• Exact journal title

• ISSN/eISSN

• PubMed record

• MEDLINE status where applicable

• Publisher information

This will avoid the common error that researchers make of assuming any journal that was found in PubMed is indexed in MEDLINE.

How to Verify DOAJ Indexing?

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a well-known source to find and confirm open-access journals.

In the case of a journal which claims to be a DOAJ indexed journal, check the journal directly in DOAJ.

DOAJ Indexed is not a sufficient indicator on the journal's website.

What Are DOAJ Indexing Criteria?

DOAJ has standards that address key aspects of open access publishing, including:

• Open-access availability

• Peer-review process

• Editorial information

• Copyright and licensing

• Publishing transparency

• Author charges

• Journal website information

If a journal claimed inclusion in DOAJ, verify that it is indeed included in DOAJ and that the information is correct.

Is Google Scholar the Same as Scopus or Web of Science?

No.

This is an important difference for researchers because if they are not interested in the brain cells, they can use a different research method.

Google Scholar is mainly a scholarly search and discovery service. It provides access to research papers, theses, books, conference papers and more.

Consequently, articles from a journal can be identified in Google Scholar even if the journal is not available in the Web of Science or Scopus.

Google Scholar vs Scopus vs Web of Science

Feature	Google Scholar	Scopus	Web of Science
Main use	Scholarly discovery	Citation database	Citation database
Coverage	Broad	Curated	Curated
Citation tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Journal-level evaluation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Equivalent indexing status	No	Yes	Yes
Different approach	No	Yes	Yes

So, if your institution says:

“Publish in a Scopus indexed journal”

Google Scholar journal indexing does not satisfy that requirement.

Similarly, finding your articles through Google Scholar does not prove that the journal is Scopus or Web of Science indexed.

How to Identify Fake or Outdated Indexing Claims?

The most crucial aspect of journal verification.

A website for the journal can be professional and yet have incorrect or incorrect information in the indexing information.

Here are some warning signs to check before turning in your paper.

1. Fake Indexing Badges

Sometimes the logos of Scopus or Web of Science are prominently displayed on websites.

A logo does not constitute proof.

Use appropriate official database to check the journal.

2. Old Screenshots

A publisher can present readers with a screen shot of their journal being indexed in Scopus several years ago.

This does not mean the journal is at this moment indexed.

Please verify the latest information in the database.

3. Discontinued or Delisted Journals

A journal can actually have been indexed in the past but was then delisted or coverage discontinued.

That is why one shouldn't always look for the journal name without checking the years or current status.

4. Mismatched ISSN

When the ISSN on the journal's website does not correspond to the ISSN in the database, look into the matter before submitting.

Don't assume that the difference is just a small technical error.

5. “Under Evaluation” Claims

Be careful with the following statements:

• “Under Scopus evaluation”

• “Applied for Scopus”

• “Scopus indexing in process”

• “Submitted to Web of Science”

The above statements are not intended to imply that the journal is already indexed.

6. Unclear Publisher Information

Verify the publisher listed in the official database with the one listed on the website of the journal.

If the publisher has been changed, search for them to find an explanation for the change.

Quick Journal Verification Checklist

Take some time to check the following before sending your manuscript.

• Check the ISSN
  Check for the Journal's ISSN and ensure that this identifier is the same on the Journal website and in the indexing database.

• Verify in the Official Database
  Use of the appropriate official database and not solely the third party journal indexing lists.

• Confirm Current Coverage
  If the journal is currently available, see if it is indexed and see its years of coverage.

• Check Publisher Details
  There are several ways to check which one is correct, one of them is to check the publisher information provided in the database against the journal website.

• Check the Exact Collection
  In Web of Science, specify if the journal is included in the SCIE, SSCI, or AHCI, or other appropriate collection.

• Check for Discontinuation
  Check for discontinued, delisted, or ended coverage of journals.

• Don't Trust Logos Alone
  A database logo or certificate or a screenshot alone should never be the only evidence.

What Should You Check Before Submitting Your Research Paper?

Selection of a journal goes beyond determining if it has a high sounding claim to its indexing.

Prior to submitting your research paper, ask yourself:

1. What indexing does my institution require?

Is it Scopus, Web of Science, SCIE, PubMed, MEDLINE, DOAJ or another database?

2. Does the journal actually appear in the official database?

Do not use the journal website as the only source for information.

3. Does the ISSN match?

Be sure to look at the ISSN and eISSN.

4. Is the journal currently indexed?

Review up-to-date coverage details.

5. Has the journal been discontinued or delisted?

Current indexing does not imply any prior indexing.

6. Is the exact index or collection correct?

Finally, if you require SCIE, check for SCIE and not just ‘Web of Science'.

7. Does the publisher information match?

Be sure to check the right journal.

8. Is the journal's indexing claim supported by an official record?

If the claim can't be substantiated, stop before submitting or paying an APC.