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How to check journal coverage in Web of Science and Scopus

Check title and ISSN in Master Journal List and Scopus Sources, including the collection, coverage dates and current status.

Research publishingPrepared by Lê Minh3 min
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Check a journal using identifiers and official records

  1. Identifiers

    Match title, ISSN and publisher

  2. Index records

    Consult the index directly

  3. Coverage

    Check dates and coverage type

  4. Record

    Record the check date and outcome

Conceptual diagram. An index logo on a journal website does not replace an official check.

Source: Lê Minh · Conceptual illustration, not software output.

To verify journal indexing, consult the database’s official source and record the date. An “ISI/Scopus” badge on a journal website or invitation email is insufficient. Similar titles, changed ISSNs and changing coverage status can all cause mistakes.

Make “ISI” specific

Researchers often use “ISI” informally for Web of Science journals. In a report, name the database or collection actually verified, such as SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI within Web of Science Core Collection. Avoid replacing these distinctions with a generic quality label.

Clarivate identifies Master Journal List as authoritative for coverage information. Journal Citation Reports and citation metrics serve different purposes. A ranking screenshot does not replace checking the current indexing record.

Check Master Journal List

  1. Obtain the full title, print ISSN and eISSN from the journal’s official site and retain its address.
  2. Search Master Journal List by ISSN or title. Clarivate’s resource guide introduces title, keyword and ISSN searching.
  3. Match the title, publisher and identifiers. Open the profile to identify the exact collection rather than accepting a similar search result.
  4. Record the date and displayed status. For a published article, also check the article’s own database record and the evaluating institution’s requirements.

Appearance in any Web of Science product does not establish membership in the same Core Collection index.

Check Scopus Sources

Search Scopus Sources by title or ISSN and inspect the source profile. Elsevier’s Source details guide explains publisher, ISSN, status and coverage-year fields. Check the dates rather than merely finding a title.

Discontinued coverage can reflect standards review, lack of recent records or a change of title and ISSN. Read the record rather than guessing the reason. The Scopus selection policy describes re-evaluation and discontinued-source lists. Previously indexed content generally remains part of the scientific record, subject to exceptions stated in the policy.

Indexing does not evaluate an individual paper

An indexed journal does not guarantee that every article has sound methods or correct conclusions. Before submitting, inspect scope, review procedures, fees, editorial information and author instructions. Before citing, assess design, data, bias and relevance to your question.

SCImago can help explore its metrics and categories, but it does not establish Web of Science coverage. An external warning list also cannot replace official verification and scrutiny of journal transparency.

Record the result

Fill-in example: On [date], [journal title], ISSN [identifier], was listed in [database/collection], with coverage [years] and status [displayed status]. We checked this directly at [profile address].

Keep a verification record before submitting and recheck when evidence is required. Historical coverage is not a guarantee that every future article will be indexed.