Document date or access date?
Two dates to keep so we can trace what was read and when.
When preparing an article, we separate the date displayed on a document from the date we accessed it. They answer different questions.
The date of the document
We look for the publication or update date given by the publisher. If several dates appear, we explain which one we retained. We avoid inventing a date when the information remains uncertain.
A page can change
If we revisit a page and notice a change relevant to our article, we record it in our preparation. We distinguish the new material from what informed the first reading.
In the Journal
References have an access-date field. Editions retain their publication and update dates. These pointers make the editorial work easier to follow, without certifying the validity of information on their own.