Journal profile · Mathematics, Applied
Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications
ISSN 0022-3239 · eISSN 1573-2878 · Springer US · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1967
Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications: CAS Zone 3 · Mathematics (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.83; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,190; median 304 days to acceptance (100 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 323 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications is published by Springer US and is in Zone 3 of Mathematics in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Optimization and Variational Analysis, Advanced Optimization Algorithms Research and Matrix Theory and Algorithms, together about 45.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Computational Theory and Mathematics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications is committed to publishing meticulously chosen, high-quality papers encompassing a range of contributions, including research papers, invited papers, survey papers, and technical notes. The content of the journal revolves around mathematical optimization techniques, computational methodologies of optimization algorithms, and their diverse applications in science, engineering, and business. Theoretical domains covered in the journal include linear, nonlinear, conic, stochastic, discrete, and dynamic optimization, multiobjective optimization, optimal control, as well as variational and convex analysis. Application areas span mathematical economics, mathematical physics and biology, and various branches of engineering, including aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. The journal encourages submissions in recent, emerging, and novel areas of optimization, such as machine/deep learning, artificial intelligence, service systems optimization, and quantum computing optimization. The Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications embraces a comprehensive approach, particularly embracing the application of rigorous optimization techniques in solving high impact problems. It provides a platform for book notices, and forums – the latter being concise papers facilitating comments on published works, discussions on open problems, and exploration of research perspectives. Through this diverse range of contributions, the journal aims to advance optimization sciences and their applications in various scientific and engineering domains.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Mathematics, Applied
Editor-in-chief Bruce A. ConwayPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 8 in mainland China (about 5%); most named United States 41, France 19, Germany 15, Mainland China 8, Italy 8 (150 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Optimization and Variational AnalysisComputer Science20.8%
- Advanced Optimization Algorithms ResearchMathematics20.3%
- Matrix Theory and AlgorithmsComputer Science4.7%
- Sparse and Compressive Sensing TechniquesEngineering3.6%
- Economic theories and modelsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance3.3%
- Contact Mechanics and Variational InequalitiesComputer Science3.2%
- Advanced Control Systems OptimizationEngineering3.1%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering2.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Mathematics Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Mathematics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Mathematics, Applied | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Mathematics Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Mathematics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Mathematics, Applied | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Mathematics Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Mathematics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Mathematics, Applied | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 3 |
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 CompendexINSPECzbMATHDBLPCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, ACM Digital Library, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, RePEc
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
- 1.83LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.9Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.6LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.76LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.18LetPub ·
- h-index
- 78LetPub ·
- h-index
- 156OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 4,202OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.76OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 25.92%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 318LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 496,900Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 9,802 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 200 | 93 | 52 |
| 2025 | 323 | 118 | 486 |
| 2024 | 216 | 81 | 762 |
| 2023 | 202 | 74 | 1,101 |
| 2022 | 174 | 67 | 1,158 |
| 2021 | 188 | 72 | 2,048 |
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
304 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 204 days – 439 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 28 days (101 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 341 days
- Sample
- 100 articles with submission and acceptance dates (571 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)
- about 12 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- 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 3,190 / EUR 2,590 / GBP 2,290 | — | — |
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 papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX
- Suggested reviewers
- Required
Article types accepted1
- editorialThis journal publishes carefully selected papers covering mathematical optimization (and related topics) and its application to science, engineering, and busine…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access
- 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 Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
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
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1967
- ISSN
- 0022-3239
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-2878
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications
What CAS zone is Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications is in Zone 3 of Mathematics, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Mathematics, Applied / Operations Research & Management Science. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Mathematics. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.83; CiteScore 2.6, h-index 156.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications?
Based on the dates recorded on 100 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 304 days (interquartile range 204–439 days); authors report an average review time of about 12 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 Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX; Suggested reviewers: Required. 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 Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications based?
Of the 150 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 8 (about 5%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (41), France (19) and Germany (15). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, INSPEC, zbMATH, DBLP and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,190.
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: .