Although the terms periodical, serial, journal, and magazine have to some extent different definitions, they are time and again used interchangeably. They are available on a normal basis (i.e., weekly, monthly, annually) and hold articles written by many authors.

A journal includes peer-reviewed articles that are written by many scholars while a magazine contains more well-liked articles often written by journalists. The terms periodical and serial are more common and refer to the entire types of these materials.