Glossary · C
Citation
A citation is an explicit reference by an answer engine to a specific page as a source for part of its answer, usually shown as a link.
Extended definition
In more detail.
Citations are the unit of success in GEO. They are distinct from mentions, which name the organization without linking a source. Engines differ in how they present citations: numbered references, inline links, source panels or chips. A page earns citations by containing a passage that answers the question directly, by being attributable to a verifiable source, and by being reachable to the engine’s crawler. Citations can be lost when engines change retrieval behavior, so tracking by page and engine is needed to tell site changes from engine changes.
In our work
Where it appears.
Citation tracking by page and engine records which pages earn citations for which prompts and feeds the refresh cycle and the editorial plan.
By David Selakovic · Published 2026-10-16 · Revised 2026-10-16 · Reviewed every 180 days