For researchers preparing to publish in Scopus/Web of Science, choosing the right scientific journal is crucial. At first glance, everything seems simple: find a journal that is indexed in the selected database, is relevant to the topic, and has appropriate scientometrics indicators. However, in reality, there is a risk of encountering “predatory” publications that only imitate indexing and do not meet the requirements of the scientific community. In this article, we will explain in detail how to check whether a journal is actually indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. We will also tell you what to look out for in order to avoid mistakes.
How to check indexing in Scopus?
There are three main ways to check journal indexing. We recommend using data directly from the database rather than from other resources.
Checking via the Scopus page
To do this, you need to go to the database (this can be done without a subscription), select a journal search, enter the required parameters, and open the publication page. If it says “coverage discontinued in Scopus”, this means that indexing has been discontinued. If the search does not return any results, it means that the journal has never been indexed in Scopus.
Downloading the list of indexed publications
Scopus regularly checks journals for compliance with its requirements and excludes those publications that no longer meet the database standards. You can view the current list of indexed journals on the official website. After downloading the complete list of Scopus journals, the user will have full access to the list of indexed publications. In this list, you can find out which journals are indexed in the database and, in case of exclusion, find out which journals were indexed last.
Contacting Scopus Support
If you are unable to verify the indexing of a journal yourself, you can contact Scopus Support for advice. However, this option should only be used in rare cases, as the two previous methods are usually sufficient for verification.
Complex cases of checking journal indexing in Scopus
After familiarising yourself with the basic methods of checking journal indexing in Scopus, you should consider cases that may cause doubts when choosing a publication. We have reviewed the most common problem situations and developed a step-by-step algorithm for each of them.
Scopus cover years
If the “cover years” line says “to present”, it means that the journal is still indexed in the Scopus database. Let's look at this using the scientific journal Asclepio as an example.
It should be noted that the designation “to 1997” does not necessarily indicate that the journal has been excluded from the Scopus database; it only reflects the period for which the materials are indexed. Therefore, even if a specific year is indicated, this may mean that the journal is still included in the database, but with certain time restrictions.
Such situations with indexing years occur quite often, especially at the beginning of a new calendar year. For example, at the beginning of 2025, many journals had the label “to 2024”, which is not a sign of exclusion. It only means that in 2025 there were no new issues that could be indexed. After the first issue of the current year is released, the status is updated to “to present”.
Algorithm for checking journal indexing in Scopus:
- Analyse the journal page in the Scopus database. Note whether there are indexed materials for 1997-1999. Their absence may indicate a break in indexing.
- Check for the “coverage discontinued in Scopus” mark. If there is no such mark, it indicates that the journal is probably still indexed.
- Download the official list of indexed journals. Find the publication you need in this list to verify its current status.
- Pay attention to the “Active” status. If the journal is marked as “Active”, it means that it regularly submits materials for indexing in Scopus.
If the journal does not submit materials for three years, its status will be changed to “discontinued”.
The journal has been excluded from Scopus, but what about articles that have been indexed?
If a journal was excluded from Scopus in a given year, this does not mean that previously indexed materials are automatically removed. Articles that were indexed prior to exclusion usually remain available in the database. However, it is important to clearly identify which documents are included in Scopus and which are not.
How to check the indexing of a document in Scopus:
- Review the content coverage in Scopus to find out what materials are included in the database.
- Check the journal in the Source Title List, which indicates which years or issues were included in the Scopus index.
- This will allow you to determine which documents have been indexed.
Checking journal indexing by ISSN
You can easily check journal indexing by searching by ISSN. This will allow you to quickly determine the status of the publication and its availability in the database.
How should you not check indexing in Scopus?
- Scimago Journal Rank (SJR). This indicator is updated only once a year, while the Scopus database is updated monthly. Therefore, SJR data does not always reflect the current indexing status.
- Official journal website. Relying solely on information from the journal's website is unreliable, as some publications, especially dubious ones, may provide inaccurate information.
- Thematic lists of journals. When reviewing collections, pay attention to their publication date, as some of the information may be outdated.
Scientific Publications regularly publishes updates on the list of journals that have lost their indexing in the Scopus database. You can find the list of journals that lost their indexing in June 2025 in our previous article. Follow our blog to stay up to date with the latest updates.
How to check journal indexing in Web of Science?
The Web of Science database covers a huge number of scientific publications from around the world. Its main part consists of various collections, including citation indexes. The most popular among them is the Web of Science Core Collection, which contains four main journal indexes:
- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) – includes thousands of scientific and technical journals and is one of the oldest citation indexes, introduced by Eugene Garfield.
- Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) – indexes journals related to the social sciences. To be included in this list, publications must undergo a rigorous selection process based on quality and impact criteria.
- Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) – specialises in journals in the arts and humanities. This is one of the most highly specialised indexes, as it covers a specific category of knowledge.
- Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) – includes journals that have recently been added to Web of Science. Publications are first reviewed for quality criteria and may later be re-evaluated and transferred to one of the three indices mentioned above.
Therefore, when checking indexing in Web of Science, it is important to pay attention to these citation indexes (Web of Science Core Collection) first.
How to find a journal in Web of Science?
First, go to the Master Journal List website and pay attention to three key functions that can be used to check the indexing of a journal: “Search Journals”, “Match Manuscript” and “Download”. Let's see how each of them can be used to work effectively with scientific journals.
Search Journals
- Select the “Search Journals” function on the Master Journal List website.
- Enter the ISSN of the desired journal.
- In the “Web of Science Coverage” filter, leave only those citation indexes that are part of the Web of Science Core Collection.
- If a journal appears in the search results, it means that it is indexed in the Web of Science database.
- For such journals, an extended view of the main indicators is available.
Web of Science Master Journal List
The Web of Science Master Journal List platform offers a feature that allows you to download a complete list of scientific journals indexed in this database. To do this, simply use the “Download” option on the website. After clicking the button, you will receive an up-to-date list of publications in spreadsheet format (e.g. Excel), which can be used to check the indexing of a journal offline by title, ISSN or publisher. This method is especially convenient for librarians, scientific consultants, and researchers who work with a large number of journals at the same time or want to have an archived copy of the register for a specific date.
All publications included in the downloaded list are officially indexed in the Web of Science database. You can search the table by journal title or ISSN. However, please note that scientometrics indicators (e.g., impact factor, quartile, etc.) are not displayed in this file.
Please note that a full subscription to Web of Science is required to view the complete list of scientific journals.
Need to publish a scientific article? Contact Scientific Publications! We will help you find a suitable journal in the Scopus or Web of Science database and accompany your work to successful publication and indexing. Get a free consultation by filling out the form below, and a manager will contact you shortly. Together to successful publication!
