Transparent peer review is a process where the exchanges between reviewers, authors, and editors are published alongside an article. Reviewer identities typically remain anonymous unless they opt to disclose their names. This is compatible with journal articles or preprints.

Importantly, transparency alone is not sufficient, and introduces potential unintended problems. Surfacing and making reviews accessible to readers is a vital component.

Transparent peer review promotes accountability among authors, reviewers, and editors; allows readers insight into the review process and decision-making, increasing trust in the research; provides educational value, especially for early-career researchers; helps identify potential biases and improve rigour in reviews and the process of peer review itself.

Yes. The main peer review can be double-anonymised to ensure impartial evaluation, while the transparency applies to post-publication.

By agreeing to review for a journal offering transparent peer review, reviewers consent to have their comments published anonymously.

Yes. Some servers and peer review services publish reviews before (& regardless of) journal publication, making the process highly transparent and more efficient. Additionally, some servers and indexers will highlight preprint reviews alongside the preprint.

Peer review of preprints occurs when experts (journal-coordinated or from the community) review manuscripts posted on preprint servers, sometimes openly and sometimes anonymously. These reviews may be published alongside the preprint or incorporated if the manuscript progresses to formal publication

Preprint peer review accelerates research communication and feedback; allows early input from the wider scientific community; enhances the rigour of manuscripts before journal submission.