---
title: What is AI citation? · Aeonav
description: A source link an AI answer attributes information to. The clearest signal that your content shaped the answer.
canonical: https://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/ai-citation
updated: "2026-06-01"
---

[AI search glossary](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary)

# AI citation

A source link an AI answer attributes information to. The clearest signal that your content shaped the answer.

A citation is the model pointing at a page as the basis for something it said. It is stronger than a passing mention, because it can send a reader to your site and it confirms the model leaned on your content.

You cannot edit the answer or see the index, but you can be the most relevant, well-structured, current, and trusted option for the questions that matter to you. Those are the factors engines weigh when they decide what to cite.

## Go deeper

- [How to earn AI citations](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/blog/ai-citations)

## Related terms

[Brand mention](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/brand-mention)[AI search engine](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/ai-search-engine)[Grounding](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/grounding)

## See it in your own data

Aeonav is an open-source AI visibility platform. Self-host it for free and track how AI answer engines mention and cite your brand.

[Get started](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/docs/getting-started)[Compare tools](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/ai-visibility-tools)