How can I check the impact factor of an article on a journal website?

To check a journal's impact factor, visit the journal's official website and navigate to designated sections detailing publication metrics. This information is typically readily accessible on publisher or scholarly society platforms. Locating the impact factor requires accessing specific journal information pages, often found under headings like "About this Journal," "Journal Information," or "Editorial Policies." Key details include: (1) The most recent Journal Impact Factor (JIF), published annually in Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports (JCR); (2) The specific edition year referenced, as JIF values fluctuate each year; (3) Clarification on which citation index (Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index) calculated the metric; (4) Potential inclusion of additional indicators like CiteScore (Scopus) or rank within subject categories; and (5) Disclaimers about the metric's application at the journal level, not individual articles. Implementing this involves several straightforward steps: First, locate the journal's primary publisher or society website through trusted sources like directories or libraries. Second, explore sections explicitly labelled "About the Journal," "Journal Metrics," "For Authors," or similar, frequently in site footers or navigation bars. Third, verify the reported JIF corresponds to the latest Clarivate release. Finally, note the year and source for accurate referencing and comparison. This process directly supports research evaluation and journal selection decisions.