The Science Citation Index (SCI) is a legacy product originating from the early years of Clarivate’s print-based citation indexes. Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) subsequently became the primary online citation database within the Web of Science platform, with SCI representing a subset of journals that have achieved particularly high citation performance.
No additional journals are being added/incorporated into SCI. Clarivate’s focus is now on SCIE as the principal collection for journals that meet its impact and quality criteria. All journals included in SCI are also indexed in SCIE; however, not all SCIE journals are included in SCI.
SCI consists of journals that are among the most highly cited within their respective disciplines and that demonstrate a sustained and stable citation record over time. Inclusion in SCI therefore reflects both strong citation performance and consistent scholarly influence. However, there is no specific advantage associated with an SCIE journal also being included in SCI. As noted above, the distinction is largely a legacy of historical product structures rather than a meaningful indicator of a journal’s current standing or positioning. The separation likely originated from Clarivate’s earlier approach to organizing content for distribution and sale across different media formats.
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