Sources Cited by Claude
Anthropic
Claude can search the web and cite specific URLs in its responses. It tends to prefer authoritative sources: documentation, academic papers, and established media outlets. When web search is enabled, Claude provides numbered citations linking directly to the source pages.
How Claude uses sources
Claude provides numbered inline citations when using web search. It favors documentation sites, Wikipedia, academic sources, and authoritative media. Claude's citation style is structured: each claim gets a bracketed reference linking to the source URL. For technical queries, GitHub and Stack Overflow appear frequently.
Top sources for Claude
wikipedia.org
The free encyclopedia. A foundational knowledge source for every major LLM's training data and real-time retrieval.
github.com
The world's largest code hosting platform. LLMs cite repositories, README files, issues, and discussions.
stackoverflow.com
The largest developer Q&A platform. A top source for code examples, error resolution, and technical explanations in LLM responses.
medium.com
Open publishing platform. LLMs cite Medium articles for thought leadership, tutorials, and industry analysis.
reddit.com
The internet's largest forum. Subreddits cover every topic, from product recommendations to technical troubleshooting. LLMs frequently cite Reddit threads as first-hand user experiences.
news.ycombinator.com
Y Combinator's tech community. Cited for developer opinions, startup discussions, and tech industry commentary.
All tracked sources for Claude
💬 Forum Sources
Discussion forums and Q&A sites
reddit.com
The internet's largest forum. Subreddits cover every topic, from product recommendations to technical troubleshooting. LLMs frequently cite Reddit threads as first-hand user experiences.
stackoverflow.com
The largest developer Q&A platform. A top source for code examples, error resolution, and technical explanations in LLM responses.
quora.com
Q&A platform covering broad topics. Cited for expert opinions, personal experiences, and long-form answers.
news.ycombinator.com
Y Combinator's tech community. Cited for developer opinions, startup discussions, and tech industry commentary.
⭐ Review Sources
Software and product review sites
g2.com
The largest B2B software review platform. LLMs cite G2 reviews for software comparisons, ratings, and buyer sentiment.
sourceforge.net
Open-source software directory and review platform. Cited for software downloads, reviews, and project comparisons.
capterra.com
B2B software review and comparison platform. Cited for software category lists, feature comparisons, and user reviews.
trustpilot.com
Consumer review platform. Cited for business reputation, customer sentiment, and service quality assessments.
👥 Social Sources
Social networks
linkedin.com
The professional social network. LLMs cite LinkedIn for company profiles, professional bios, and industry discussions.
x.com
Real-time social platform. Grok has native access; other LLMs cite X posts for trending topics, opinions, and announcements.
youtube.com
The largest video platform. LLMs reference YouTube for tutorials, reviews, and educational content via metadata and transcripts.
📚 Wikipedia Sources
Wikipedia and wikis
📖 Documentation Sources
Technical docs and code repos
📋 Directory Sources
Product directories and listings
📰 Media Sources
News and publications
Frequently asked questions
What sources does Claude cite most?
Claude cites a mix of sources depending on query type. Top sources include Wikipedia, GitHub, Stack Overflow, Medium. Technical queries lean toward documentation and code repositories. Consumer queries favor forums and review sites.
How does Claude choose its sources?
Claude provides numbered inline citations when using web search. It favors documentation sites, Wikipedia, academic sources, and authoritative media. Claude's citation style is structured: each claim gets a bracketed reference linking to the source URL. For technical queries, GitHub and Stack Overflow appear frequently.
Can I track which sources Claude cites for my brand?
Yes. xSeek monitors Claude responses for your brand mentions and tracks which sources are cited alongside them. You see citation frequency, source types, and trends over time.
How is Claude different from other LLMs in source selection?
Each LLM has distinct citation patterns. Claude (Anthropic) uses specific retrieval strategies that favor certain source types. Compare citation patterns across models using the source tracking table above.
