Journal profile · Computer Science, Software Engineering
Empirical Software Engineering
ISSN 1382-3256 · eISSN 1573-7616 · Springer US · NETHERLANDS · Quarterly · Founded 1996
Empirical Software Engineering: CAS Zone 2 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.39; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,290; median 281 days to acceptance (64 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 183 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Empirical Software Engineering is published by Springer US and is in Zone 2 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Software Engineering Research, Software Engineering Techniques and Practices and Software Reliability and Analysis Research, together about 54.3% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Empirical Software Engineering provides a forum for applied software engineering research with a strong empirical component. Over the last decade, it has become clear that empirical studies are a fundamental component of software engineering research and practice: Software development practices and technologies must be investigated by empirical means in order to be understood, evaluated, and deployed in proper contexts. This stems from the observation that higher software quality and productivity is more likely to be achieved if well-understood, tested practices and technologies are introduced in software development. Reported empirical studies usually involve the collection and analysis of data and experience that can be used to characterize, evaluate and reveal relationships between software development deliverables, practices, and technologies. Over time, it is expected that such empirical results will form a body of knowledge leading to widely accepted and well-formed theories. Empirical Software Engineering aims at promoting the publication of industry-relevant research since one of its goals is to address the significant gap between research and practice. Research Articles Both original and replicated studies can be reported, varying from controlled experiments to field studies, from data intensive to qualitative. Preference is given to studies that can be replicated or expanded upon. Papers on the infrastructure for supporting empirical research are also of interest. Specific topics relevant to the journal include the following: Analysis and design Model-driven development Requirements engineering Verification and validation Maintenance and evolution Quality assurance Dependability analysis Project management Organization models for software development Predictive models for software dependability Software engineering economics Applications of artificial intelligence techniques to software engineering Qualitative analysis
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Software Engineering
Editor-in-chief Robert FeldtPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 13 in mainland China (about 10%); most named United States 23, Canada 18, Mainland China 13, Italy 11, Germany 9 (124 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Software Engineering ResearchComputer Science30.1%
- Software Engineering Techniques and PracticesComputer Science12.6%
- Software Reliability and Analysis ResearchComputer Science11.6%
- Software Testing and Debugging TechniquesComputer Science8.8%
- Software System Performance and ReliabilityComputer Science7.5%
- Open Source Software InnovationsComputer Science5.6%
- Advanced Software Engineering MethodologiesComputer Science5%
- Advanced Malware Detection TechniquesComputer Science4.8%
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, Software Engineering | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexINSPECDBLPCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, ACM Digital Library, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 3.39LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.4Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.6LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.92LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.43LetPub ·
- h-index
- 59LetPub ·
- h-index
- 125OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,278OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.55OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 42.51%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 177LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 1,100,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,183 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 172 | 105 | 109 |
| 2025 | 183 | 95 | 750 |
| 2024 | 179 | 105 | 1,571 |
| 2023 | 166 | 93 | 2,366 |
| 2022 | 187 | 115 | 4,171 |
| 2021 | 172 | 113 | 4,433 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
281 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 225 days – 394 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 25 days (97 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 318 days
- Sample
- 64 articles with submission and acceptance dates (413 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 24 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer review, Double 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 2,290 / EUR 3,190 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | No APC | — | — |
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 papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted1
- editorialSingle-blind peer review This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. Editorial Procedure—additional information For all submissions, this Journal a…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Empirical Software Engineering, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Single-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure.
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
- Springer US
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1996
- ISSN
- 1382-3256
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-7616
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Empirical Software Engineering
What CAS zone is Empirical Software Engineering in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Empirical Software Engineering is in Zone 2 of Computer Science, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Computer Science, Software Engineering. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Empirical Software Engineering?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.39; CiteScore 8.6, h-index 125.
How long does peer review take at Empirical Software Engineering?
Based on the dates recorded on 64 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 281 days (interquartile range 225–394 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; 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 Empirical Software Engineering?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: 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 Empirical Software Engineering based?
Of the 124 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 13 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (23), Canada (18) and Mainland China (13). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Empirical Software Engineering?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Empirical Software Engineering is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, INSPEC, DBLP and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Empirical Software Engineering open access, and what is the APC?
Empirical Software Engineering is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,290.
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: .