> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/references-and-citations/08-biblatex-citation-styles.md).

# Biblatex citation styles

## Introduction and example

Biblatex provides numerous citation styles but if no citation style is set LaTeX uses the one that matches the [bibliography style](/latex/references-and-citations/07-biblatex-bibliography-styles.md). Here is a minimal example showing use of the `biblatex` parameter `style=alphabetic` to set the citation style to `alphabetic`.

```latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[
backend=biber,
style=alphabetic,
]{biblatex}
\title{A bibLaTeX example}
\addbibresource{sample.bib} %Imports bibliography file

\begin{document}
\section{First section}

Items that are cited: \textit{The \LaTeX\ Companion} book \cite{latexcompanion} together with Einstein's journal paper \cite{einstein} and Dirac's book \cite{dirac}---which are physics-related items. Next, citing two of Knuth's books: \textit{Fundamental Algorithms} \cite{knuth-fa} and \textit{The Art of Computer Programming} \cite{knuth-acp}.

\medskip

\printbibliography
\end{document}
```

Open this example in Overleaf (the `sample.bib` file is created for you).

This example produces the following output:

![A biblatex example](/files/Dh7wIB7ZIZ4hwtrmi5Md)

## Citation styles

Standard citation styles include:

* `numeric` Implements a numeric citation scheme intended for in-text citations. Should be employed in conjunction with the numeric [bibliography style](/latex/references-and-citations/07-biblatex-bibliography-styles.md).
* `numeric-comp` Compact variant of the `numeric` mode. Citations like *\[1, 2, 3]* are replaced by *\[1-3]*.
* `numeric-verb` Verbose variant of the `numeric` style. Instead of *\[2, 5, 7]* will print *\[2];\[5];\[7]*.
* `alphabetic` Alphabetic citation scheme similar to the standard `alpha` in style **bibtex**. To be used in conjunction with the alphabetic bibliography style.
* `alphabetic-verb` Verbose version of the `alphabetic` style. Instead of *\[Doe98, Doe95, Farn2004]* will print *\[Doe98];\[Doe95];\[Farn2004]*.
* `authoryear` Implements the author-year citation scheme. To be used in conjunction with the author-year bibliography style.
* `authoryear-comp` Compact variant of the `authoryear` style. Prints the author only once if subsequent references passed to a single citation command share the same author. Prints *Doe 1992, 1995* instead of *Doe 1992, Doe 1995*.
* `authoryear-ibid` A variant of the `authoryear` intended for footnote citations. Replaces repeated citations by the abbreviation *ibidem*.
* `authoryear-icomp` A style combining the features of `authoryear-comp` and `authoryear-ibid`
* `authortitle` Implements the author-title scheme. Intended for citations given in footnotes.
* `authortitle-comp` Compact variant of `authortitle`. Instead of *Doe, First title; Doe, Second title* this will print *Doe, First title, Second title*.
* `authortitle-ibid` A variant of the `authortitle` intended for footnote citations. Replaces repeated citations by the abbreviation *ibidem*.
* `authortitle-icomp` A style combining `authortitle-comp` and `authortitle-ibid`.
* `authortitle-terse` Variant of `authoritle` that only prints the title if the bibliography contains more than one work of the respective author/editor.
* `authortitle-tcomp` Style combining `authortitle-terse` and `authortitle-comp`.
* `authortitle-ticomp` Style combining `authortitle-icomp` and `authortitle-terse`.
* `verbose` Citation style that prints a full citation when the entry is cited for the first time and a short version afterwards.
* `reading` Citation style that goes with the bibliography style by the same name. Loads the `authortitle` style.

There are other non-standard citation styles popular in different journals and thesis

* In Sciences:
  * American Chemical Society (ACS) style
  * American Institute of Physics (AIP) style
  * American Mathematical Society (AMS) style
  * Vancouver system
  * Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) style
  * Nature style
  * Science style
* In Humanities:
  * Chicago Style
  * Harvard referencing style
  * MLA style
* In Socials:
  * American Psychological Association (APA) style

| Citation style | `biblatex` stylename |
| -------------- | -------------------- |
| ACS            | `chem-acs`           |
| AIP            | `phys` (\*)          |
| Nature         | `nature`             |
| Science        | `science`            |
| IEEE           | `ieee`               |
| Chicago        | `chicago-authordate` |
| MLA            | `mla`                |
| APA            | `apa`                |

(\*) this is a new style, see <http://ctan.org/pkg/biblatex-phys>

## Further reading

For more information see

* [Bibliography management in LaTeX](/latex/more-topics/05-bibliography-management-in-latex.md)
* [Biblatex bibliography styles](/latex/references-and-citations/07-biblatex-bibliography-styles.md)
* [Biblatex package documentation](http://linorg.usp.br/CTAN/macros/latex/contrib/biblatex/doc/biblatex.pdf)
* [Table of contents](/latex/document-structure/02-table-of-contents.md)
* [Management in a large project](/latex/document-structure/07-management-in-a-large-project.md)


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