IEEE style is a numbered citation system used in engineering, computer science and related technical fields. Sources are cited in the text with numbers in square brackets, such as [1], and listed in that order at the end.
This page covers the in-text rules, the reference list layout and example entries for the source types engineering and computing students cite most. The examples are invented to show the format.
IEEE Style in Five Rules
- Number sources in the order you first cite them: [1], [2], [3].
- Reuse a source's number every time you cite it again.
- Put the number in square brackets inside the sentence, before the punctuation.
- In references, give authors as initials then surname: A. B. Author.
- Put article and chapter titles in quotation marks, and book and journal titles in italics.
In-Text Citations
The bracketed number replaces the author and year used in other styles. It can sit at the end of a clause or act as part of the sentence.
Wireless sensor networks lose most energy during transmission [1].
As shown in [2], routing protocols can extend battery life.
Omondi [3] proposed a clustering method that later work extended [4], [5].
Several studies report similar results [6]–[9].
- Use a comma between separate numbers: [2], [5].
- Use a range for three or more consecutive numbers: [6]–[9].
- Give a page or section for a specific point if needed: [3, p. 12].
- Do not write "in reference [2]"; write "in [2]".
The Reference List
Title the list "References". Entries are listed in numerical order, not alphabetically, with the number in square brackets flush left and the entry text aligned beside it.
- Authors appear as initials and surname: J. A. Omondi.
- For up to six authors, list them all; for more than six, give the first author followed by "et al."
- Use "and" before the last author, with a comma first when there are three or more.
- Abbreviate journal and conference names where standard abbreviations exist.
- Abbreviate months, such as Jan., Mar. and Nov.
Because the list follows citation order, build it as you write. Each time you cite a new source, add it to the bottom of the list with the next number. Reference managers can do this automatically if you choose the IEEE style.
Journal Articles
[1] A. Author, B. Author, and C. Author, "Title of article," Abbrev. Journal, vol. x, no. x, pp. xx–xx, Mon. Year, doi: xx.xxxx/xxxxx.
[1] J. A. Omondi and P. M. Kariuki, "Energy-efficient routing in wireless sensor networks," IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 2234–2248, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.0000/twc.2022.0425.
The article title uses sentence case inside quotation marks, with the comma inside the closing quotation mark. The journal name is italicized and abbreviated.
Conference Papers
[2] A. Author, "Title of paper," in Abbrev. Name of Conf., City, Country, Year, pp. xx–xx.
[2] M. Wang and Y. Zhang, "Lightweight intrusion detection for smart home devices," in Proc. Int. Conf. Netw. Secur., Singapore, 2023, pp. 410–417.
Books and Chapters
[3] A. Author, Title of Book, xth ed. City, Country: Publisher, Year. [4] A. Author, "Title of chapter," in Title of Book, xth ed., A. Editor, Ed. City, Country: Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
[3] R. Mensah, Digital Signal Processing for Engineers, 2nd ed. London, U.K.: Northfield Press, 2021.
[4] L. Chen, "Antenna arrays," in Modern Communication Systems, K. Osei, Ed. Boston, MA, USA: Harbor Academic, 2020, pp. 88–112.
Websites, Standards, Datasets and Theses
[5] Author or Organization. "Title of page." Website Name. Accessed: Mon. Day, Year. [Online]. Available: URL [6] Title of Standard, Standard Number, Year. [7] A. Author, "Title of thesis," Ph.D. dissertation, Abbrev. Dept., Abbrev. Univ., City, Country, Year.
[5] Solar Data Network. "Hourly irradiance records." Solar Data Network. Accessed: Oct. 9, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.solardata.example/hourly
[6] Standard for Example Wireless Protocols, Std. 0000-2020, 2020.
[7] A. Wanjiku, "Low-power sensor design for remote clinics," Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Elect. Eng., Lakeside Univ., Lakeside, Kenya, 2022.
For software and code repositories, include the author or organization, the title, the version and the URL with an access date.
IEEE Compared with Other Numbered Styles
| Feature | IEEE | Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| Typical fields | Engineering, computing, technology | Medicine, nursing, health sciences |
| In-text number | Square brackets: [1] | Superscript or brackets, by guide |
| Author format | J. A. Omondi | Omondi JA |
| Article title | In quotation marks | Plain text |
| Journal title | Italic, abbreviated | Plain, abbreviated |
Common IEEE Mistakes
- Listing references alphabetically instead of in citation order.
- Giving a new number each time a source is cited again.
- Writing full first names instead of initials.
- Placing the bracket after the full stop instead of before it.
- Leaving out volume, issue, page range or DOI for journal articles.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, whose publications use this citation style.
No. References are numbered in the order you first cite them in the text.
Yes. Use the same number every time you cite it.
Separate numbers with commas, such as [2], [5], and use a range for consecutive sources, such as [6]–[9].
No. The number alone identifies the source; the year appears in the reference list.
After the bracket: "...in sensor networks [1]."
List up to six. For more than six, give the first author followed by "et al."
Include the DOI for journal articles when one exists, at the end of the entry.
Only if your instructor asks for it. IEEE suits technical fields; most other subjects expect APA, Harvard, MLA or Chicago.