Meaning

Here citation means a verifiable link, source card, or explicit attribution visible to the user. A bare brand name is not the same as a citation.

Section sources:[1] Google Search Central[2] Google Gemini Help[3] Anthropic Support

Boundary

Systems expose sources differently: Google AI features, Gemini, and Claude document their own interfaces. Behavior in one system must not be generalized to another.

Section sources:[1] Google Search Central[2] Google Gemini Help[3] Anthropic Support

Example

An answer may name a study without a URL, link to the publisher page, or provide several links. These outcomes should be coded separately.

Measurement

Archive the prompt, mode, date, full answer, all links, and coding rule. Report both numerator and denominator for the panel.

Inference limit

A citation shows a displayed link, but does not prove an effect on ranking, retrieval, or referral.

What this does not prove

  • This is an editorial definition; platform interfaces and rules change. Repeat the test, inspect coding errors, and match each claim to primary evidence before publication.

Sources

  1. 2
    Find and verify sources in Gemini AppsGoogle Gemini Help · official · 11 Sept 2026

Correction history

No material corrections have been published.