Reference management is the process of organizing and maintaining a collection of citations and references for academic or research purposes. It helps researchers keep track of sources, ensuring they can easily find and cite them in their work. Tools like Zotero, EndNote, and Mendeley are commonly used to streamline this process, allowing users to import, organize, and format references efficiently. Effective reference management is crucial for academic integrity, as it helps prevent plagiarism by ensuring proper attribution of ideas and information. By using reference management software, researchers can create bibliographies in various citation styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, making it easier to adhere to publication guidelines.