Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is Clarivate’s annual journal-analysis product and database built on Web of Science Core Collection data. It publishes Journal Impact Factor (JIF), quartiles (Q1–Q4), category ranks, and related indicators in an official frame. When evaluation documents say “JCR quartile,” they usually mean this product.
JCR is a layer above the raw citation index: WoS collects articles and citations; JCR turns them into journal-year metrics. “WoS-indexed” is therefore not always the same sentence as “has a JCR IF/Q,” especially around ESCI and A&HCI nuances. JIF and Q values change by year—always state the year in a dossier.
In Turkey, appointment and incentive juries often want JCR/WoS quartiles rather than Scopus quartiles. Scopus and Scimago quartiles are calculated differently; mixing them can cost points. This site’s journal catalog and Find quartile tool place JCR beside Scimago to reduce that confusion. Check on-page notes: WoS/JCR metrics here may start from 1997 onward.
JCR is a commercial subscription product; full free public access is not universal, though many university libraries subscribe. The Impact Factor, citable item, and quartile entries explain how to read JCR. When choosing a journal, look past a Q1 badge to category definition, field norms, and predatory risk.