Article Types Eligible for Open Access Publishing Under ACM OPEN

ACM introduced the concept of an APC-eligible article into its publishing program when it launched its Hybrid Open Access option for authors back in 2013. The concept of an APC-eligible article was already used by many publishers at the time to define those article types that are generally "fundable" by most large public and private funders of scholarly research in the US, UK, Europe, and elsewhere around the world.

The list of article types that were categorized as APC-eligible was originally longer than the current list, which has been finetuned as ACM has gained experience working with authors, research funders, and institutional partners on the ACM Open program since its launch in 2020.

As ACM is in the final stages of preparation to become a fully Open Access Publisher on January 1, 2026, we continue to receive many questions regarding the types of articles that will require authors to be affiliated with an ACM Open institution, obtain an APC Waiver, or pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) prior to the publication of their article by ACM in 2026 and beyond. 

For most ACM Publications, article-type, rather than publication title (i.e.- journal title, Conference title, Workshop title, etc.), determines whether an article will require funding through one of the three options listed above with a few limited exceptions, which can be found here. These exceptions are for co-sponsored publications where ACM shares the ownership or co-publication with another organization. 

Lastly, most ACM journals, magazines, conference proceedings, and workshop proceedings include both APC-eligible articles and non-APC-eligible articles. Below you will find a list of the three main article types ACM currently defines as APC-eligible and a longer list of article types currently defined as non-APC-eligible with brief definitions of each article type that should be used by ACM staff, ACM authors, ACM conference and workshop organizers, and other stakeholders to properly categorize articles.

APC-Eligible

• Research Article – An article that reports on original or primary research, such as experiments, which typically contains an abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion sections, references, figures, tables, footnotes, and may be accompanied by research artifacts and supplementary materials. Research articles are "typically 5+ pages in length. Fully peer reviewed."

• Short Paper – An article that reports on original research and contains many of the same characteristics of a research article, but tends to be shorter in length, typically presented at an academic conference or workshop, presenting preliminary findings that may later be published as a full-length original research article, and are often intended to stimulate further research in a field. Short papers are typically 4-6 pages in length. Intended to be self-contained like a Research Article. Fully peer reviewed.

• Survey Article – An article that offers a broad and structured overview of research in a field or subfield. Survey articles often summarize the evolution of a theory, concept, or technique from origination to the current state of the art. A survey article assumes a general knowledge of a research area, emphasizes the classification of the existing literature, develops a perspective on the area, and evaluates trends. A survey article answers the questions “What is currently known about an area? And "what does it mean to researchers and practitioners?” Fully peer reviewed.

"Please note ACM publishes many other types of content every year." The following content types are heavily downloaded from the ACM Digital Library but are non APC-eligible. Abstract – A concise summary of a research article that gives readers a quick overview of the essential content of the article

Non-APC-Eligible

• Announcement – A short, non-research item in a conference, journal, or newsletter, such as a call for papers, conference notice, award announcement, or news. Intended to be informational and not scholarly.
• Article commentary - A short scholarly contribution that critically discusses or contextualizes another article or current topic in a field. Intended to inform, critique, or stimulate further debate. Typically, 1,000 – 2,500 words in length.
• Book review – A critical assessment of a book, which evaluates the book’s contribution to a field, including its strengths and weaknesses. Typically, 500 – 1,500 words in length.
• Column – A recurring, non-research article in a journal or magazine that presents commentary, analysis, opinions, or insights into a specific topic. Typically, authored by the same person on a regular basis.
• Correction – A brief correction of a minor factual error in a published article intended to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record to ensure readers have access to accurate information. States the error and corrected information.
• Course material – Intended to support instruction, teaching, training, or professional development. Can include lecture notes, lab exercises, case studies, or problem sets.
• Demonstration – A description or explanation of system, prototype, algorithm, or application.
• Extended abstract – Provides a summary of a work-in-progress, typically just enough for readers to understand the idea, scope, and potential impact. Often lacks full methodology, detailed results, or extensive references. Often peer reviewed only for relevance and quality and are published in conference proceedings. Typically, 1-4 pages in length.
• Forum – A short contribution that encourages discussion, debate, or the exchange of views on current issues, theories, methods, or previously published articles. Typically, 1-4 pages in length.
• Interview – A piece that presents a conversation or dialogue with an individual or group in a field. Typically conducted by an editor, journalist, or scholar intended to report on personal perspectives, experiences, opinions, or insights. Not original research.
• Introduction – The opening section of a research article, book, or report that introduces the work. Not intended as a standalone content type.
• Invited talk – Speakers who have been invited to give a talk by the organizers of a conference on a particular topic.
• Keynote – An invited presentation by a prestigious individual intended to set the tone, theme, or intellectual direction of a conference.
• Letter to the Editor – A letter written to the Editor of a journal or magazine intended to provide a constructive critique, clarification, or support of a published article.
• Newsletter – A recurring publication issued by a society, association, publisher, or research group to communicate news, updates, and community-focused information. Not peer-reviewed original research articles.
• Note/ Editorial Note/ Technical Note – A concise contribution that does not warrant a full-length paper but is of interest to the field. Often used for new methods, preliminary results, negative results, dataset descriptions, or clarifications of existing work. A way to communicate findings rapidly and succinctly. Typically, 2-5 pages in length.
• Opinion – A view, judgement, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular topic. Opinion pieces, policy statements, or general commentary.
• Panel – A group of people gathered to conduct a public discussion, judge a contest, or serve as advisers.
• Poster – A visual and interactive form of presenting information at a conference where findings are summarized on a display board and discussed with attendees.
• Review Article – Provides a synthesis and critical evaluation of the existing literature on a particular topic. Tends to be narrower in scope than a Survey Article
• Tutorial – A structured educational session intended to teach participants about a specific topic, method, or tool.
• Work in Progress – A brief scholarly communication that reports on early-stage or ongoing research. Intended to share promising ideas or preliminary results before the work is complete. Intended to get feedback and stimulate discussion.