Citation generators are programs that turn information about a source into a citation that the writer can use in a project. Though many different citation generators exist, most follow this general process:
The generator receives information about a source. Usually, this comes from the user: he or she types the source’s author, title, publication date, and so on.
The generator processes this information according to settings the user has specified (e.g., the citation style and the medium). This usually means putting the pieces of information received in Step 1 into the correct order and applying the correct formatting.
The generator produces a citation (or set of citations) that the user can use.
The citations generated from these tools must be checked for accuracy against the writing style.
Most library databases now have built-in citation generators. These allow users to select a "Cite" button and select the citation format needed from the dropdown menu options.
Adapted from Purdue Online Writing Lab