Journal profile · Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Pattern Recognition Letters
ISSN 0167-8655 · eISSN 1872-7344 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1982
Pattern Recognition Letters: CAS Zone 3 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.33; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,500; review about 196 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: about 25%; 353 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Pattern Recognition Letters is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 3 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Image Retrieval and Classification Techniques, Advanced Image and Video Retrieval Techniques and Face and Expression Recognition, together about 26.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An official publication of the International Association for Pattern RecognitionPattern Recognition Letters aims at rapid publication of concise articles of a broad interest in pattern recognition. Subject areas include all the current fields of interest represented by the Technical Committees of the International Association of Pattern Recognition, and other developing themes involving learning and recognition. Examples include:• Statistical, structural, syntactic pattern recognition; • Neural networks, machine learning, data mining; • Discrete geometry, algebraic, graph-based techniques for pattern recognition; • Signal analysis, image coding and processing, shape and texture analysis; • Computer vision, robotics, remote sensing; • Document processing, text and graphics recognition, digital libraries; • Speech recognition, music analysis, multimedia systems; • Natural language analysis, information retrieval; • Biometrics, biomedical pattern analysis and information systems; • Special hardware architectures, software packages for pattern recognition.We invite contributions as research reports or commentaries.Research reports should be concise summaries of methodological inventions and findings, with strong potential of wide applications. Alternatively, they can describe significant and novel applications of an established technique that are of high reference value to the same application area and other similar areas.Commentaries can be lecture notes, subject reviews, reports on a conference, or debates on critical issues that are of wide interests.To serve the interests of a diverse readership, the introduction should provide a concise summary of the background of the work in an accepted terminology in pattern recognition, state the unique contributions, and discuss broader impacts of the work outside the immediate subject area. All contributions are reviewed on the basis of scientific merits and breadth of potential interests.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Editor-in-chief M. De MarsicoPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 19 in mainland China (about 25%); most named Mainland China 19, Italy 16, United States 9, United Kingdom 7, India 5 (76 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Image Retrieval and Classification TechniquesComputer Science9.7%
- Advanced Image and Video Retrieval TechniquesComputer Science9.2%
- Face and Expression RecognitionComputer Science7.5%
- Medical Image Segmentation TechniquesComputer Science7.5%
- Advanced Vision and ImagingComputer Science5.9%
- Image and Object Detection TechniquesComputer Science4.8%
- Neural Networks and ApplicationsComputer Science4.1%
- Video Surveillance and Tracking MethodsComputer Science3.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
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, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview 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
- 3.33LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 7.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.79LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.14LetPub ·
- h-index
- 139LetPub ·
- h-index
- 222OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,766OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.77OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 14.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 20.04%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 326LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 9,883 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 301 | 68 | 111 |
| 2025 | 353 | 102 | 1,199 |
| 2024 | 319 | 99 | 2,355 |
| 2023 | 294 | 85 | 3,471 |
| 2022 | 316 | 79 | 5,072 |
| 2021 | 373 | 114 | 9,943 |
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
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
196 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 7.2 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 7.2 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 25%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 17 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 95 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 196 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 10 daysPublisher website ·
- 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 2,500 / EUR 2,340 / GBP 2,000 / JPY 310,080 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 2,320 | — | — |
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 prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted5
- commentariesCommentaries can be lecture notes, subject reviews, reports on a conference, or debates on critical issues that are of wide interests.Length not stated
- commentaryWe invite contributions as research reports or commentaries.Research reports should be concise summaries of methodological inventions and findings, with strong …Length not stated
- research reportWe invite contributions as research reports or commentaries.Research reports should be concise summaries of methodological inventions and findings, with strong …Length not stated
- research reportsResearch reports should be concise summaries of methodological inventions and findings, with strong potential of wide applications.Length not stated
- reviewWe invite contributions as research reports or commentaries.Research reports should be concise summaries of methodological inventions and findings, with strong …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
Single anonymized review process Model summary
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 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
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1982
- ISSN
- 0167-8655
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-7344
- Society / sponsor
- International Association for Pattern Recognition
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Pattern Recognition Letters
What CAS zone is Pattern Recognition Letters in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Pattern Recognition Letters is in Zone 3 of Computer Science, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence. 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 Pattern Recognition Letters?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.33; CiteScore 7.8, h-index 222.
How long does peer review take at Pattern Recognition Letters?
The publisher reports about 196 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 7.2 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 25%”. 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 Pattern Recognition Letters?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX and Word; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: 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 Pattern Recognition Letters based?
Of the 76 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 19 (about 25%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (19), Italy (16) and United States (9). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Pattern Recognition Letters?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Pattern Recognition Letters is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Pattern Recognition Letters open access, and what is the APC?
Pattern Recognition Letters is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,500.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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 2026-08-28). Last updated: .