How to determine whether a journal is an open access journal?

To determine if a journal is open access (OA), consult its official website and examine its publication model and access policies. Registered listings in authoritative directories like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) provide definitive confirmation. An open access journal provides immediate, free, unrestricted online access to all published articles upon publication, typically under an open license (e.g., Creative Commons). It adheres to the principles of free availability and reuse defined in the Budapest Open Access Initiative. Key criteria include the absence of subscription barriers and explicit OA statements. Be mindful that "hybrid" journals offer OA optionally for individual articles, while fully OA journals publish all content OA. Exercise caution regarding predatory journals lacking proper peer review. The primary application involves verifying journal status before submission or citing to ensure alignment with funding mandates or institutional policies. Steps include: locate the journal's "About" or "Policy" section online for OA declarations and licensing information; search the DOAJ; check for article processing charge (APC) models common in gold OA. This verification supports broader knowledge dissemination research impact.