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---
license: cc-by-4.0
language:
- en
pretty_name: AEO Citation Tracking Schema
size_categories:
- n<1K
tags:
- aeo
- geo
- llmo
- ai-citation
- schema
- chatgpt
- claude
- perplexity
- gemini
task_categories:
- text-classification
- structured-prediction
configs:
- config_name: default
  data_files:
  - split: train
    path: schema.csv
---

# AEO Citation Tracking Schema

> A reference schema for tracking when and how AI search engines (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews) cite a website. Designed as a starting point for AEO/GEO/LLMO monitoring tools. Maintained by [ThatDevPro](https://www.thatdevpro.com).

## Background

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and LLM Optimization (LLMO) are emerging disciplines tracking how brands appear in AI-generated answers across:

- **ChatGPT** (OpenAI) — includes web search via SearchGPT
- **Claude** (Anthropic) — includes web search via claude.ai
- **Perplexity** — citation-first AI search
- **Gemini** (Google) — includes AI Overviews in Google Search
- **Copilot** (Microsoft) — Bing AI mode
- **Grok** (xAI) — Twitter/X AI search

This dataset defines a minimal, normalized schema for tracking citation events across these engines.

## Schema columns

| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `engine` | enum | chatgpt / claude / perplexity / gemini / copilot / grok / other |
| `query` | string | The user query that triggered the citation |
| `cited_url` | string | URL of the cited page |
| `cited_domain` | string | Root domain |
| `position` | int | Citation order in the answer (1 = first) |
| `confidence` | float | 0.0-1.0 (model-reported or inferred) |
| `query_category` | string | informational / transactional / navigational / commercial |
| `vertical` | string | Industry vertical (cleaning, tax, legal, etc.) |
| `geographic_intent` | string | Local / national / international / none |
| `device` | string | mobile / desktop / api |
| `country` | string | ISO-3166 |
| `language` | string | ISO 639-1 |
| `timestamp_utc` | datetime | When citation was observed |
| `query_id` | string | Stable hash of the query for deduplication |

## Use cases

- Bootstrap an AEO monitoring tool (database schema, API design)
- Benchmark consistency of citation across engines
- Detect citation hallucinations (URL doesn't match content)
- Research geographic and vertical patterns in AI citation
- Compete with platforms like AthenaHQ, Profound, Bluefish AI, Otterly.AI on a free + open standard

## Related Resources

- [ThatDevPro AEO insights](https://www.thatdevpro.com/insights/framework-aicitations/)
- [aio-surfaces](https://github.com/Janady13/aio-surfaces) — generates the four AI-citation surfaces
- [ThatDevPro framework series](https://www.thatdevpro.com/insights/) — 100+ AEO/GEO/SEO frameworks
- [Wikidata Q139901957](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139901957) — author

## Citation

```bibtex
@misc{anady2026aeoschema,
  author = {Anady, Joseph W.},
  title = {AEO Citation Tracking Schema},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Hugging Face},
  url = {https://huggingface.co/datasets/ThatDeveloperGuy13/aeo-citation-tracking-schema},
}
```

## License

CC BY 4.0. Free reuse with attribution.