Difference between Citation and Reference

Meaning

A citation is a brief notation within the body of a text that indicates the source of information, ideas, or quoted material.

A reference is a detailed entry at the end of a document that provides full information about a source cited in the text.

Location

A citation is located within the text as an in-text citation, footnote, or endnote.

A reference is located at the end of the document, in the bibliography or reference list.

Purpose

A citation briefly indicates the source of specific information within the text.

A reference provides full details of the sources cited in the text.

Content

A citation usually includes the author’s last name and the date or page number.

A reference includes full bibliographic information such as the author’s name, title, publication date, and publisher.

Format

Citation formats vary (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) depending on the style guide being used.

Reference formats vary (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) depending on the style guide being used.

Relation

Each citation is directly linked to a corresponding reference entry.

Each reference entry corresponds to one or more citations in the text.

Example

In-Text Citation (APA):

“According to recent research, emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership (Smith, 2020).”

Reference (APA):

Smith, J. (2020). The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership. City: Publisher.