Do IEEE references go in alphabetical order?

No. IEEE lists references in the order they are first cited in the text, and each source keeps its assigned number throughout.

How do I cite the same source more than once?

Reuse its original bracket number every time. You never assign a new number to a source you have already cited.

Numbered referencing standard in engineering, computer science, and technical fields.

Typically used inComputer science, electrical and electronic engineering, and technical writing.

Key rules

These are the distinctive rules for IEEE. Edge cases vary by edition and institution, so confirm anything unusual against your department's guide.

Sources are cited by bracketed numbers in the order they first appear: 'as shown in [3]' or 'the results [4], [5]'.
The reference list is numbered in citation order, not alphabetised.
Author names are given as first-initial then surname: J. Smith.
Article titles take quotation marks; journal and conference titles are italicised and often abbreviated.
The same bracket number is reused every time you cite that source again.

Questions

We format in-text citations and the reference list to your required style, edition, and edition-specific quirks.