03 · Retrieval, Evidence & Consensus

Citation

A reference a system uses, and often shows, when answering.

Industry Term

Full explanation

A citation is a reference to a brand, source, or piece of information that an AI system or search engine uses, and often surfaces, when constructing an answer.

Why this matters

Citations are the most visible evidence that a system considered a source credible enough to lean on, which makes them the closest observable proxy for recognition.

Where this sits

Citation belongs to Retrieval, Evidence & Consensus, one of the seven layers of the Aingworth Glossary. Information exists, then it is retrieved, then sources are selected, then they corroborate one another, then consensus emerges. This is where Aingworth's Consensus Over Rankings thesis lives.

Related terms

Citation Share The share of answers on a topic that cite a given brand. AI Referral When an AI answer points someone onward to a brand's site or resource. Citation Decay References becoming fewer, less prominent, or out of date over time.
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