Predatory publishing refers to exploitative academic publishing practices where publishers prioritize profit over the integrity of scholarly work. These publishers often solicit submissions from researchers, charging high publication fees without providing proper peer review, editorial oversight, or transparency. Predatory journals may lack clear editorial standards, legitimate metrics, and credible indexing, which can mislead researchers and negatively impact their reputation and limit their impact in the field; these journals are typically not recognized by academic institutions or indexing services. Researchers should be cautious and evaluate journals carefully, considering factors such as peer review, editorial board qualifications, and inclusion in reputable databases before submitting their work.