# Understand citation rate

> Citation rate is your website's share of the sources AI answers cite, worked out for each answer and averaged over every answer in the range.

<Frame caption="See how often tracked answers link to your site.">
  <img src="/docs/ai-visibility/metrics/citation-rate/01-tile.png" alt="The Citation rate metric tile is enlarged to show links to the tracked website." />
</Frame>

Citation rate helps you assess references to your own website in collected AI answers. Use it alongside brand mentions to understand where the answer points readers for supporting information.

## How Erlin calculates it

For every answer, Erlin divides the sources on your website's domain by all the sources the answer cites. An answer that cites no sources counts as 0%. Citation rate is the average of those shares across every answer in the range.

```
Citation rate = average of (your site's sources ÷ all sources cited) × 100, over every answer
```

**Worked example:** Acme has 4 answers. They cite 5 sources (1 is Acme's), 4 sources (2 are Acme's), 6 sources (none) and no sources. The shares are 20%, 50%, 0% and 0%: (20 + 50 + 0 + 0) ÷ 4 = **17.5%**, shown as 18%.

## Read the metric in context

Open **AI Visibility > Overview** and find **Citation rate** in **Visibility over time**. Select the reporting period and review the prompt scope before comparing results.

A brand can be named while the answer cites only third-party pages. Your website can also be cited without the business being recommended. Neither event proves that someone clicked the link.

## Check the answers behind the number

Open a relevant prompt in [Prompt details](https://www.erlin.ai/docs/ai-visibility/prompts/prompt-details). Review its platform, answer and sources. Compare like-for-like questions before attributing a movement to a content change.

Open the cited page and check which statement it supports. A source about your category is different from a page that accurately describes your own service.

<Frame caption="AI can mention your brand while citing another website.">
  <img src="/docs/ai-visibility/metrics/citation-rate/02-mention-vs-citation.png" alt="Two answers mention Brightline Studio. The first cites Yelp; the second cites Brightline Studio’s own website." />
</Frame>

## Avoid misleading comparisons

Changing the prompt set, platforms or the locations prompts run from changes the evidence being summarized. Keep a record of those changes. A period with missing answers should not be treated as equivalent to a complete set of checks.

Prompt Discovery volume is an estimate of demand. It is separate from the answers used to assess visibility, and neither number is a count of website visitors.

## Decide what to investigate next

Review [competitor gaps](https://www.erlin.ai/docs/ai-visibility/competitors) and [cited sources](https://www.erlin.ai/docs/ai-visibility/citations/overview) to find the specific page or question behind a change. Use [Brand mention rules](https://www.erlin.ai/docs/ai-visibility/brand-mentions) for recognition errors, and [recommendations](https://www.erlin.ai/docs/opportunities/opportunity-and-action) for possible next actions.

See [How Erlin works](https://www.erlin.ai/docs/get-started/how-erlin-works) for the measurement boundaries. A stronger metric is evidence about tracked answers, not a guaranteed business outcome.