How to understand the final acceptance or rejection decision of a journal?

Journal acceptance signifies formal approval for publication after successful peer review and editorial assessment, indicating the manuscript meets the publication's standards for novelty, rigor, and relevance. Conversely, a rejection decision denotes the manuscript is not approved for publication in that specific journal. Such decisions are fundamentally determined through rigorous peer review, assessing criteria including methodological soundness, originality, significance, clarity, scope alignment, and adherence to ethical guidelines. Acceptance hinges on meeting all critical standards, while rejections can occur due to fundamental flaws, lack of novelty, poor fit with the journal's scope, or insufficient perceived impact; rejection does not inherently invalidate the research's merit. Editorial oversight ensures review integrity, though acceptance rates vary considerably across journals, reflecting their selectivity. Understanding the decision involves objectively analyzing detailed reviewer and editorial feedback provided. Differentiate between an outright rejection (requiring major revisions and potential journal change) and a "reject and resubmit" invitation allowing substantial revision. Utilize critiques to strategically strengthen the manuscript, whether revising for resubmission or selecting a more suitable journal, thereby transforming the outcome into a valuable learning experience regardless of acceptance status.