How to Cite
This is a preview of the DLMF. Citations to specific items (such as figures and equations) should be deferred until final release, as it is still possible that these may change. Citations to the whole site are permissible.
The following describes our intended recommendations for citations to be used in the final release.
§ Reference numbers
We have established a direct correspondence between reference numbers in the print version of the book and those on the website, to enable users of either version to both cite specific items and to find such cited items. We have also committed to the permanence of URL's referring to such items.
Table 1 describes the correspondence between reference numbers as they appear in print, and URL's that find the same object online. For example, suppose you have been referred to equation 2.10.19. To find this equation in the print copy, you simply find section 10 within chapter 2 and then scan to the 19th formula, as usual. To find the equation in the web site, you would type the URL http://dlmf.nist.gov/2.3.E19 into the location bar of your browser.
Note the extra, disambiguating `E'. Similarly, if you have been refered to 2.10.E19 (presumably by a web site user), you may disregard the 'E' when looking in the book.
Because of this correspondence, it will generally be more useful to cite a reference number, rather than page numbers from the book.
| Type | Number | Permalink |
| Chapters | 2 | http://dlmf.nist.gov/2 |
| Sections | 2.3 | http://dlmf.nist.gov/2.3 |
| Subsections | 2.3(iv) | http://dlmf.nist.gov/2.3.SS4 |
| Equations | 2.3.4 | http://dlmf.nist.gov/2.3.E4 |
| Figures | 2.10.1 | http://dlmf.nist.gov/2.10.F1 |
| Tables | 2.5.1 | http://dlmf.nist.gov/2.5.T1 |
For convenience, the recommended `Permalink' (permanent URL) can be found in the pop-up `Info box' associated with each item in the site; this provides a relatively short URL that can always be used to refer to the given item, and will not change.
§ Citations in Print
When referring to the web site from a print publication, it is recommended to use the following format.
Digital Library of Mathematical Functions. Release date. National Institute of Standards and Technology from http://dlmf.nist.gov.
where the Release date can be found at the bottom of all DLMF pages. When refering to specific items, it will be more useful to readers to refer to the reference number of the item, rather than the page numbers that it appears on.