Journal profile · Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Applied Soft Computing
ISSN 1568-4946 · eISSN 1872-9681 · Elsevier BV · NETHERLANDS · Quarterly · Founded 2001
Applied Soft Computing: CAS Zone 2 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 7.75; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,730; review about 24 months (community reports); community-reported acceptance: easy; 1,674 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Applied Soft Computing is published by Elsevier BV and is in Zone 2 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms Research, Advanced Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithms and Multi-Criteria Decision Making, together about 30.7% of its articles. Its main subfields are Artificial Intelligence. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Official Journal of the World Federation on Soft Computing (WFSC) http://www.softcomputing.orgApplied Soft Computing is an international journal promoting an integrated view of soft computing to solve real life problems. Soft computing is a collection of methodologies, which aim to exploit tolerance for imprecision, uncertainty and partial truth to achieve tractability, robustness and low solution cost. The focus is to publish the highest quality research in application, advance and convergence of the areas of Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, Evolutionary Computing, Swarm Intelligence and other similar techniques to address real world complexities.Applied Soft Computing is a rolling publication: articles are published as soon as the editor-in-chief has accepted them. Therefore, the web site will continuously be updated with new articles and the publication time will be short.Major Topics:The scope of this journal covers the following soft computing and related techniques, interactions between several soft computing techniques, and their industrial applications:Evolutionary ComputingFuzzy ComputingHybrid MethodsImmunological ComputingNeuro ComputingSwarm IntelligenceMachine and Deep LearningRough SetsThe application areas of interest include but are not limited to applications of soft computing to:Agricultural Machinery, Smart FarmingAutonomous ReasoningBig Data, IoT, Edge ComputingCombinatorial OptimizationData MiningDecision SupportEngineering Design OptimizationFault DiagnosisFinanceHuman-Machine InterfaceIntelligent AgentsManufacturing SystemsPower ElectronicsMulti-objective OptimizationPower and EnergyProcess and System ControlRoboticsSecuritySensor SystemsSignal or Image ProcessingSoftware EngineeringSupply Chain EconomySystem Identification and ModellingTelecommunicationsTime Series PredictionExtended Reality, Metaverse, Digital TwinsVision or Pattern RecognitionAuthors are welcome to submit letters promoting original soft computing research to Applied Soft Computing's open access companion title, Systems and Soft Computing.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Editor-in-chief Mario KöppenPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 35 in mainland China (about 16%); most named Mainland China 35, Italy 23, India 21, Spain 16, United Kingdom 10 (214 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms ResearchComputer Science13.5%
- Advanced Multi-Objective Optimization AlgorithmsComputer Science9.2%
- Multi-Criteria Decision MakingDecision Sciences7.9%
- Evolutionary Algorithms and ApplicationsComputer Science6.8%
- Neural Networks and ApplicationsComputer Science6%
- Fuzzy Logic and Control SystemsComputer Science4.3%
- Rough Sets and Fuzzy LogicComputer Science4.2%
- Face and Expression RecognitionComputer Science3.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 7.75LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 13.1LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 13.1Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.46LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.83LetPub ·
- h-index
- 110LetPub ·
- h-index
- 238OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 9,314OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.39OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 9%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 9.89%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,556LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 14,903 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,748 | 303 | 1,024 |
| 2025 | 1,674 | 235 | 8,937 |
| 2024 | 1,294 | 185 | 20,176 |
| 2023 | 1,084 | 197 | 28,526 |
| 2022 | 902 | 180 | 26,543 |
| 2021 | 1,060 | 238 | 41,976 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 24 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,730 / EUR 3,490 / GBP 2,990 / JPY 462,630 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,270 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers4, by deadline
- Soft Computing for Agentic AI: Advances and ApplicationsDeadline
- Special Issue on Fault Diagnosis and Health Management Soft Computing Methodologies for Industrial 5.0 SystemsDeadline
- Incremental Learning: Algorithms & ApplicationsDeadline
- Novel Multimodal Foundation Models in Applied Computing and IntelligenceDeadline
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Optional
Article types accepted6, with length limits
- commentaryArticle typesAuthors are invited to submit technical papers (20-30 pages, at most 50 pages), state of the art survey papers (but see Section on Review Articles …Length not stated
- letterArticle typesAuthors are invited to submit technical papers (20-30 pages, at most 50 pages), state of the art survey papers (but see Section on Review Articles …main text ≤ 3,500 words
- letter to the editorArticle typesAuthors are invited to submit technical papers (20-30 pages, at most 50 pages), state of the art survey papers (but see Section on Review Articles …Length not stated
- reviewArticle typesAuthors are invited to submit technical papers (20-30 pages, at most 50 pages), state of the art survey papers (but see Section on Review Articles …Length not stated
- review articleArticle typesAuthors are invited to submit technical papers (20-30 pages, at most 50 pages), state of the art survey papers (but see Section on Review Articles …Length not stated
- surveyArticle typesAuthors are invited to submit technical papers (20-30 pages, at most 50 pages), state of the art survey papers (but see Section on Review Articles …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing is permitted and does not count as prior publication. Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2001
- ISSN
- 1568-4946
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-9681
- Society / sponsor
- World Federation on Soft Computing
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Applied Soft Computing
What CAS zone is Applied Soft Computing in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Applied Soft Computing is in Zone 2 of Computer Science, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence / Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Applied Soft Computing?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.75; CiteScore 13.1, h-index 238.
How long does peer review take at Applied Soft Computing?
Authors report an average review time of about 24 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Applied Soft Computing?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Cover letter: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Applied Soft Computing based?
Of the 214 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 35 (about 16%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (35), Italy (23) and India (21). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Applied Soft Computing?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Applied Soft Computing is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Applied Soft Computing open access, and what is the APC?
Applied Soft Computing is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,730.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .