A BibTeX key is a unique identifier for a reference in a BibTeX file. To cite a reference in a TeX document, you insert the BibTeX key for the reference in the correct place in the document. When the document is converted to its final output format, the BibTeX keys are replaced with the correct, formatted citations. Example:

Suppose your BibTeX file contains this entry:

@book{Andretta.2005
author = {Andretta, Susie},
year = {2005},
title = {Information literacy},
publisher = {Chandos},
address = {Oxford},
}

In your TeX document, you could insert the following citation command:

\cite{Andretta.2005}

When the document is converted, the following entry might be made in the bibliography: Andretta, Susie (2005): Information literacy. Oxford: Chandos.

hmtoggle_plus1 Generating BibTeX Keys in Citavi

hmtoggle_plus1 Customizing BibTeX Key Templates

hmtoggle_plus1 Additional BibTeX Key Options