Scopus indexes journals, books, and conference proceedings based on quality and relevance. Unlike Web of Science, Scopus does not use SCI/SSCI labels, but it categorizes sources in the following ways:
Scopus Journals
These are peer-reviewed scholarly journals accepted after evaluation by the Content Selection & Advisory Board (CSAB). They must follow ethical publishing practices, regular schedules, and academic standards. Most Scopus-indexed research articles come from this category.
Scopus Conference Proceedings
Scopus indexes selected international conferences with strong peer review and academic relevance. These are common in engineering, computer science, and technology fields. Not all conferences are indexed—only those meeting Scopus quality criteria.
Scopus Book Series
Academic book series from reputable publishers are indexed when they contribute original research content. These are common in interdisciplinary and applied research areas.
Scopus Metrics-Based Categories (Q1–Q4)
Scopus journals are ranked using metrics like CiteScore, SJR, and SNIP, and grouped into quartiles:
Q1 – Top 25% journals (highest impact)
Q2 – Upper-middle level journals
Q3 – Middle-level journals
Q4 – Entry-level journals
These quartiles indicate journal performance, not indexing type.
Discontinued Scopus Sources
Journals that violate ethical standards or show declining quality may be discontinued from Scopus. Articles published before discontinuation usually remain indexed.