These are the rules every article on The Next Digit follows, whoever writes it. They exist so you can judge how much weight to give what we say.
Accuracy and sources
Facts that change, such as prices, plan limits, specifications, rules and version numbers, are checked against primary sources: the vendor’s own pages and documentation, standards bodies and official government pages. When we state a figure that can change, we say it is correct at the time of writing, and that phrase refers to the date the article was last updated. If we cannot confirm a figure from a reliable source, we leave it out rather than guess.
We do not invent test results, measurements, customers or quotations. When an editor gives a judgment, it is presented as a judgment, and we explain the criteria behind it so you can apply them yourself.
How to check
Wherever it is possible, our guides include a way for you to verify the advice: a measurement to take before and after, a setting to inspect, a test to run on your own device or with your own data. We think a reader should be able to confirm a recommendation, not simply trust it.
Updates
Technology changes faster than most published advice. We review our guides and update them when the facts change. Substantial changes are reflected in the date shown on the article.
Independence
Editors decide what we cover and what we say about it. No company can pay for coverage, for a better position in a list, or for a favorable verdict. Vendors do not see articles before publication.
Financial interests and AI
How we handle financial interests in the tools we mention, and how our editors use AI tools, is set out on our AI and Financial Interests page.
Corrections
When we get something wrong, we correct it. Write to [email protected] with the article and the sentence in question. If a correction changes the meaning of an article, we say so in the article itself.
Contributors
Contributed articles go through the same checks as articles by our editors. Contributors must tell us about any connection to a product they write about, and editors approve every link. The details are on our Contribute page.
Sister publication
The Next Digit is a sister publication of Savant. The two publications are editorially separate.