BibTeX Generator
Generate accurate BibTeX citations instantly from DOI, URL, ISBN, or by entering details manually. Our tool fetches publication metadata automatically and creates properly formatted bibliography entries ready to use in your LaTeX documents.
Managing references is one of the most tedious parts of academic writing. Manually formatting BibTeX entries is error-prone and time-consuming—authors, titles, journal names, and dates must all be entered correctly and consistently. Our BibTeX generator eliminates this burden by automatically fetching citation data from trusted sources like CrossRef, Google Books, and publisher APIs.
Simply paste a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), URL, or ISBN, and our tool retrieves all the necessary metadata: authors, title, journal, year, volume, pages, and more. The result is a clean, properly formatted BibTeX entry that you can copy directly into your .bib file. For sources without DOIs, use our manual entry mode to create entries for any type of publication. The tool is completely free, requires no account, and works entirely in your browser for maximum privacy.
Understanding BibTeX
BibTeX is a reference management system designed to work with LaTeX. It separates the content of your citations from their formatting, allowing you to maintain a single database of references that can be formatted in any citation style automatically. Understanding how BibTeX works helps you manage references more effectively.
How BibTeX Works with LaTeX
The BibTeX workflow involves three files working together: your main .tex document, a .bib file containing your references, and a style file (.bst) that determines formatting. When you cite a reference using \cite{key}, BibTeX finds the matching entry in your .bib file and formats it according to the style.
The .bib File Structure
A .bib file is a plain text database of bibliographic entries. Each entry begins with an entry type (like @article or @book), followed by a unique citation key and a series of fields enclosed in braces. Fields contain metadata like author, title, year, and journal. The citation key is how you reference the entry in your document—choose something memorable like "smith2023machine" combining author and year.
Citation Workflow Overview
To use BibTeX effectively: (1) Collect references in your .bib file as you research, (2) Cite references in your document using \cite{key}, (3) Add \bibliography{filename} and\bibliographystyle{style} to your document, (4) Compile with LaTeX, then BibTeX, then LaTeX twice more. Most modern editors automate this process. Only citations actually used in your document appear in the bibliography.
BibLaTeX: The Modern Alternative
BibLaTeX is a newer system that offers more features than traditional BibTeX, including better Unicode support and more citation styles. It uses the same .bib file format but with the biber backend instead of bibtex. The entries generated by our tool work with both BibTeX and BibLaTeX.
BibTeX Entry Types Explained
Choosing the correct entry type ensures your references are formatted properly. Here are the most commonly used types in academic writing:
@articleJournal articles with volume, issue, and page numbers
Smith, J. (2023). Machine Learning. Nature, 600, 123-130.
@bookComplete published books with ISBN and publisher
Johnson, A. (2022). Deep Learning. MIT Press.
@inproceedingsConference papers published in proceedings
Lee, K. (2023). Neural Networks. In Proc. ICML 2023.
@miscWebsites, software, datasets, and other sources
TensorFlow (2023). tensorflow.org [Software].
@phdthesisDoctoral dissertations
Brown, M. (2023). AI Ethics [PhD thesis]. Stanford.
@techreportTechnical reports from institutions
IBM (2023). Quantum Report. Tech. Rep. TR-123.
How to Use This Tool
Our BibTeX generator supports multiple ways to create citations. Choose the method that works best for your source material.
DOI Lookup
DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) are the most reliable way to generate citations. Every scholarly article published in the last two decades has a DOI, usually displayed on the first page or in the journal's metadata. Paste the DOI (with or without the "https://doi.org/" prefix) and click Generate. We query CrossRef's database to fetch complete, accurate metadata including all authors, journal details, and page numbers.
Example: 10.1038/s41586-021-03819-2 or https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03819-2
URL Parsing
For web resources, documentation, and online articles, paste the full URL. The tool attempts to extract metadata from the page including title, author, and publication date. This works well for news articles, blog posts, official documentation, and other web content. Review the generated entry to ensure accuracy, as web metadata can be inconsistent.
Tip: For preprints on arXiv, use the arXiv URL for better metadata extraction.
ISBN Lookup
For books, use the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) found on the copyright page or back cover. We query Google Books and Open Library to fetch complete book metadata including authors, publisher, edition, and publication year. Both ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 formats are supported.
Example: 978-0-13-468599-1 or 0134685991
Manual Entry
For sources without DOIs or ISBNs—such as older publications, internal reports, or unpublished works—use manual entry mode. Select the appropriate entry type, fill in the required fields (authors, title, year), and add optional fields as needed. The tool generates properly formatted BibTeX with correct field ordering and escaping.
Tip: Use the format "Last, First and Last, First" for multiple authors.
Common BibTeX Fields Reference
Understanding BibTeX fields helps you verify and edit generated entries. Here are the most important fields you'll encounter:
authorFull names in "Last, First and Last, First" formattitleComplete title, wrapped in extra braces {Title} to preserve capitalizationjournalFull journal name (or abbreviation for some styles)yearPublication year as a four-digit numbervolumeJournal volume numbernumberJournal issue number (optional)pagesPage range, typically "123--145" with double dashdoiDigital Object Identifier (without URL prefix)publisherPublisher name for booksbooktitleConference proceedings title for @inproceedingsurlURL for online resources, especially @misc entriesnoteAdditional information like "Accessed: 2023-12-01"Frequently Asked Questions
What is BibTeX?
BibTeX is a reference management tool used with LaTeX for formatting bibliographies. It stores citation information in .bib files and automatically formats references according to your chosen style.
How do I find a DOI for a paper?
DOIs are usually on the first page of papers, in the journal's metadata, or searchable via CrossRef, Google Scholar, or the publisher's website. Most papers from 2000 onward have DOIs.
What if the DOI lookup returns incorrect information?
While DOI metadata is generally accurate, publishers occasionally make errors. Review the generated entry and edit any incorrect fields manually before copying.
Can I cite websites with BibTeX?
Yes, use the @misc entry type for websites. Include the URL, access date, title, and author (if known). Our URL parsing helps generate these entries automatically.
What's the difference between BibTeX and BibLaTeX?
BibLaTeX is a newer system with more features and better Unicode support. Both use .bib files, but BibLaTeX uses the biber backend. Our generated entries work with both.
How should I format author names?
Use "Last, First and Last, First" format for multiple authors. For organizations, wrap in braces: {World Health Organization}. Our tool handles this automatically.
Why are some title words lowercase in my bibliography?
Most BibTeX styles lowercase titles except the first word. Wrap words that should stay capitalized in braces: {COVID-19} or {United States}.
What citation key should I use?
Choose memorable keys like "smith2023deep" (author + year + keyword). Our tool suggests keys, but you can change them. Keys must be unique within your .bib file.
How do I cite preprints from arXiv?
Use @misc or @article with the arXiv identifier. Include the eprint field with the arXiv number and archivePrefix = {arXiv}.
Can I generate citations for multiple sources at once?
Currently, the tool handles one citation at a time. For bulk operations, consider reference managers like Zotero that can export to BibTeX.
What if my source doesn't have a DOI or ISBN?
Use manual entry mode. Select the appropriate entry type and fill in the fields you know. The tool will generate valid BibTeX even with incomplete information.
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