What is an open access journal? How do they work?

An open access journal makes peer-reviewed scholarly research articles freely accessible to readers online without subscription fees or paywalls. This publishing model operates by shifting the financial burden from readers to authors, institutions, or funding bodies typically via article processing charges (APCs) paid after acceptance. These journals adhere to the core principle of removing price and permission barriers, ensuring immediate, permanent, full-text access upon publication. Essential mechanisms involve APCs covering peer review administration, platform maintenance, and long-term archiving, though alternative funding models like institutional subsidies also exist. Authors generally retain copyright, granting broad reuse rights under licenses like Creative Commons. Publication occurs primarily on dedicated online platforms managed by publishers, scholarly societies, or institutions, universally requiring rigorous peer review for quality control. This model significantly accelerates the dissemination and impact of research by enabling unrestricted global access. Key steps include manuscript submission, peer review, APC payment upon acceptance, final publication formatting, and immediate open dissemination online. This facilitates wider scholarly communication, public engagement, increased citation potential, and compliance with major funder mandates supporting knowledge as a public good. Many journals offer APC waivers or discounts for authors facing financial hardship.