Cost
Cost refers to the monetary expense associated with a particular service, product, or process. In academic publishing and research, costs can be associated with various stages, such as article submission fees, publication charges, or access to proprietary databases. Some journals or platforms require Article Processing Charges (APCs) for open-access publication, while others might charge for DOI registration, data storage, or repository hosting. Additionally, researchers or institutions may incur costs for attending conferences, obtaining software, or conducting experiments. Understanding and managing these costs is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of research efforts, especially in open-access and collaborative environments.