What is the page charge of a journal? How can I make the payment?

A journal page charge, also called an Article Processing Charge (APC), is a fee levied by some journals to cover the costs associated with publishing an article, particularly prevalent in open-access models. Whether a charge applies and its amount depend entirely on the specific journal's policies. The imposition and cost of page charges vary significantly across journals, often influenced by the publisher, the journal's prestige, its open-access status, and the article's length or complexity. Typical payment is required only after formal article acceptance but prior to final publication. Authors should meticulously review the journal's "Guide for Authors" or "Author Fees" webpage before submission, as this details any applicable charges, potential waivers for financial hardship, institutional agreements, or discounts that may be available. Non-payment may result in publication delays or withdrawal. Payment is usually handled online via the journal's manuscript submission or payment portal, initiated after the acceptance notification. Accepted methods commonly include credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), PayPal, bank/wire transfers, and sometimes institutional invoicing for university-affiliated authors. Funds allocated specifically for open-access publishing, such as grants or institutional library budgets, are frequently used to cover these charges. Settling the fee fulfills the financial obligation to the publisher for dissemination.