References are references in the process of writing articles or works.

However, according to the definition of GB/T77 14-20 15, the reference after the text refers to "the relevant literature information resources cited for writing or editing papers and works. According to the requirements of China Academic Journals (CD-ROM Edition) Retrieval and Evaluation Data Standard (Trial) and China Social Science Journals Arrangement Standard (Revised Edition), many publications distinguish between references and annotations, and define annotations as "words that further explain or supplement a certain content in a text", which are listed at the end of the article, separated from references or placed at the footer.