the impact factor

The impact factor is a measure used to assess the importance or influence of an academic journal. It calculates the average number of times articles from the journal are cited in other research papers within a specific period, usually two years. A higher impact factor indicates that the journal’s articles are frequently referenced by other researchers, suggesting it is a leading source in its field. While it helps gauge a journal’s reputation, it doesn't measure the quality of individual articles or researchers, and should be considered alongside other metrics for comprehensive evaluation.