What is in text documentation?

In-text documentation refers to the practice of citing sources directly within the body of a written work, such as an essay or research paper. This typically involves providing brief references, such as the author's last name and the publication year, that correspond to a full citation in a bibliography or works cited page. In-text documentation helps to attribute ideas and information to their original authors, thereby enhancing the credibility of the work and allowing readers to locate the sources easily. It is a key component of academic writing and is often governed by specific citation styles, like APA, MLA, or Chicago.