# Citation generator

- Human page: https://happytails.ai/en/education-tools/citation-generator/
- Markdown: https://happytails.ai/en/education-tools/citation-generator.md
- Structured JSON: https://happytails.ai/agents/en/education-tools/citation-generator/index.json
- Visibility: public

## Tool capabilities

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tool ID | `citation-generator` |
| Category | education-tools |
| Implementation | Registered implementation. Registration alone is not a production-quality guarantee. |
| Browser execution | Use the visible action or interactive controls. |
| Browser processing | Browser; see tool notes for network behavior. |
| HTTP API | /api/v1/tools/citation-generator/run |
| Browser-agent interface | run_current_tool |

### Implementation notes

Basic webpage reference formatting. Supply verified source metadata; this does not verify sources or cover every reference type.

### Inputs and settings

Text input: Source URL.

Example or placeholder shown in the interface (not a validated fixture):

```text
https://happytails.ai/article
```

Enter the webpage URL, then supply the source title, author and publication details below. Up to 1,000,000 characters. Review the settings before running.

| Setting | Meaning | Control type | Default | Constraints |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `style` | Style | select | "APA" | Allowed: APA, MLA, Chicago |
| `author` | Author | text | "" |  |
| `organization` | Organization (if no author) | text | "" |  |
| `date` | Publication date | text | "" |  |
| `title` | Page title | text | "" |  |
| `site` | Website name | text | "" |  |

### HTTP contract

API calls process supplied data on the server. The website origin is `https://happytails.ai`. Server API hosting is not connected on the public website yet. Use your local server origin to test these requests.

```http
POST https://happytails.ai/api/v1/tools/citation-generator/run
Content-Type: application/json
```

[Detailed operation reference](https://happytails.ai/en/api/tools/citation-generator.md) · [Shared API guide](https://happytails.ai/en/api.md)

#### Limits

| Limit | Value |
| --- | --- |
| request_bytes | 8388608 |
| input_characters | 1000000 |
| files_bytes | 5242880 |
| max_files | 0 |
| timeout_seconds | 12 |

#### Complete input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "properties": {
    "input": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 1000000,
      "default": "",
      "description": "Plain text input. File tools use files instead unless otherwise documented."
    },
    "options": {
      "type": "object",
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {
        "style": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Style",
          "default": "APA",
          "enum": [
            "APA",
            "MLA",
            "Chicago"
          ]
        },
        "author": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Author",
          "default": ""
        },
        "organization": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Organization (if no author)",
          "default": ""
        },
        "date": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Publication date",
          "default": ""
        },
        "title": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Page title",
          "default": ""
        },
        "site": {
          "type": "string",
          "description": "Website name",
          "default": ""
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Complete output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "tool",
    "result"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "tool": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "result": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "text",
        "files"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "text": {
          "type": [
            "string",
            "null"
          ]
        },
        "data": {
          "description": "Parsed JSON when the textual result is JSON."
        },
        "name": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "mime": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "files": {
          "type": "array",
          "items": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
              "name",
              "mime",
              "bytes",
              "base64"
            ],
            "properties": {
              "name": {
                "type": "string"
              },
              "mime": {
                "type": "string"
              },
              "bytes": {
                "type": "integer"
              },
              "base64": {
                "type": "string",
                "contentEncoding": "base64"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Error and retry handling

Failures return a non-200 status and `error.code` plus `error.message`. Correct invalid input before retrying; retry server-busy responses with bounded backoff. Returned files contain Base64 data, not persistent download URLs. Decode and inspect the output before treating conversion as successful. See the shared API guide for the complete status and timeout rules.

### Browser-agent workflow

1. Open the human page in a browser that supports WebMCP.
2. Discover the interface exposed by that page; use its actual schema.
3. Select files on the page first when the tool requires files.
4. Call `run_current_tool` with valid input and settings.
5. Inspect the returned result or error and the displayed output. Retrieve files from the displayed download links.

Calls do not automatically copy or download results. Browser permissions still apply. Interface availability alone is not proof of successful execution.

### Planning specification

Verified style versions and source metadata; manual entry first; do not invent missing bibliographic facts.

This describes intended requirements. Use the implementation notes, interface schema and observed output to determine current support.

### Complete machine-readable capability record

```json
{
  "id": "citation-generator",
  "category": "education-tools",
  "built": true,
  "requirements": "Verified style versions and source metadata; manual entry first; do not invent missing bibliographic facts.",
  "implementation": {
    "fields": [
      {
        "key": "style",
        "label": "Style",
        "value": "APA",
        "type": "select",
        "values": [
          "APA",
          "MLA",
          "Chicago"
        ]
      },
      {
        "key": "author",
        "label": "Author",
        "value": "",
        "type": "text"
      },
      {
        "key": "organization",
        "label": "Organization (if no author)",
        "value": "",
        "type": "text"
      },
      {
        "key": "date",
        "label": "Publication date",
        "value": "",
        "type": "text"
      },
      {
        "key": "title",
        "label": "Page title",
        "value": "",
        "type": "text"
      },
      {
        "key": "site",
        "label": "Website name",
        "value": "",
        "type": "text"
      }
    ],
    "note": "Basic webpage reference formatting. Supply verified source metadata; this does not verify sources or cover every reference type.",
    "experience": {
      "automatic": false,
      "single": true,
      "label": "Source URL",
      "placeholder": "https://happytails.ai/article",
      "help": "Enter the webpage URL, then supply the source title, author and publication details below. Up to 1,000,000 characters. Review the settings before running.",
      "action": null
    },
    "mode": "explicit",
    "interactive": false
  },
  "execution": "POST /api/v1/tools/citation-generator/run",
  "api": {
    "id": "citation-generator",
    "name": "Citation generator",
    "category": "education-tools",
    "description": "Verified style versions and source metadata.",
    "notes": "Basic webpage reference formatting. Supply verified source metadata; this does not verify sources or cover every reference type.",
    "human_path": "/en/education-tools/citation-generator/",
    "method": "POST",
    "endpoint": "/api/v1/tools/citation-generator/run",
    "schema_url": "/api/v1/tools/citation-generator",
    "input_schema": {
      "type": "object",
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "properties": {
        "input": {
          "type": "string",
          "maxLength": 1000000,
          "default": "",
          "description": "Plain text input. File tools use files instead unless otherwise documented."
        },
        "options": {
          "type": "object",
          "additionalProperties": false,
          "properties": {
            "style": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Style",
              "default": "APA",
              "enum": [
                "APA",
                "MLA",
                "Chicago"
              ]
            },
            "author": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Author",
              "default": ""
            },
            "organization": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Organization (if no author)",
              "default": ""
            },
            "date": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Publication date",
              "default": ""
            },
            "title": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Page title",
              "default": ""
            },
            "site": {
              "type": "string",
              "description": "Website name",
              "default": ""
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "output_schema": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "tool",
        "result"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "tool": {
          "type": "string"
        },
        "result": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": [
            "text",
            "files"
          ],
          "properties": {
            "text": {
              "type": [
                "string",
                "null"
              ]
            },
            "data": {
              "description": "Parsed JSON when the textual result is JSON."
            },
            "name": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "mime": {
              "type": "string"
            },
            "files": {
              "type": "array",
              "items": {
                "type": "object",
                "required": [
                  "name",
                  "mime",
                  "bytes",
                  "base64"
                ],
                "properties": {
                  "name": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "mime": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "bytes": {
                    "type": "integer"
                  },
                  "base64": {
                    "type": "string",
                    "contentEncoding": "base64"
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "processing": "Server; same transformation code as browser tools",
    "limits": {
      "request_bytes": 8388608,
      "input_characters": 1000000,
      "files_bytes": 5242880,
      "max_files": 0,
      "timeout_seconds": 12
    }
  },
  "agent_processing": "Server; same transformation code as browser tools",
  "browser_agent": {
    "supported": true,
    "name": "run_current_tool",
    "discovery": "WebMCP on the human page in a supporting browser",
    "verification": "See audit/API-AUDIT.md; availability is not verification"
  }
}
```

## Page guide

Verified style versions and source metadata.

## How to use Citation generator

1. Enter source url in the input field.
2. Review the settings, then choose Run Citation generator.
3. Review the result, then use Copy result or a download link when available.

## Working with citation generator

Study utilities help organize notes, check calculations and create practice material. Their value comes from making the source easier to work with, not replacing the process of checking an answer or learning its reasoning.

## Common questions

### Can generated flashcards contain mistakes?

Yes. Review the answer and its source before adding a card to a study set. A clear question with one intended answer is easier to learn from.

### Does a citation generator verify the source?

Formatting a reference does not confirm that the source exists, supports the claim or meets an assignment’s requirements. Check the original publication and the required citation style.