A publication is something that has been printed or released for people to read or view. Books, magazines, newspapers, and comic books are all publications. When a writer finishes a novel and a publisher prints it so readers can buy it, that's publication. When a scientist shares research findings in a journal, that's publication too.

Before publication, a manuscript might sit in a drawer or on a writer's computer where only they can see it. After publication, it's out in the world.

Publication can also mean the act of publishing itself. An author might say, “My book's publication date is next March,” meaning that's when it will be released. Scientists often track how many publications they've written, counting each article or paper they've shared with other researchers.

Today, publications don't have to be printed on paper anymore. Online magazines, digital newspapers, and e-books are all publications. What makes something a publication isn't the format but the fact that it's been officially released for others to read. The key is that transition from private to public, from something only you know about to something shared with the world.