> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getcited.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Citation Source

> The specific web page or domain an AI platform links to when citing a source in its response.

**Citation source** is the specific web page or domain that an AI platform links to when providing a [citation](/glossary/citation) in its response. When [Perplexity](/concepts/platforms/how-perplexity-ranks-sources) answers a question and includes numbered source links, each linked URL is a citation source. Understanding which citation sources appear for your category queries reveals which publications and domains LLMs consider authoritative for your topic.

## Why it matters

Citation source analysis answers a critical AEO/GEO question: where should you invest in content and PR to improve AI visibility? If Perplexity consistently cites Forbes, YourStory, and G2 when answering questions about your category, those are the publications where earned coverage will have the highest impact on your [citation rate](/glossary/citation-rate). The citation source map is essentially a PR target list generated from AI behavior data.

## How Cited uses it

Cited tracks citation sources per response on citation-providing platforms, primarily Perplexity. The dashboard's Citations tab shows which domains appear most frequently as cited sources for a brand's category queries. This data feeds the [editorial coverage playbook](/playbooks/win-editorial-coverage) — brands can see exactly which publications to target for maximum AI citation impact.

## Related concepts

* [What sources LLMs cite](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources) — the 5-tier source preference hierarchy
* [Citation](/glossary/citation) — the link itself, distinct from the source it points to
* [Editorial citation](/glossary/editorial-citation) — when the citation source is an editorial publication