What is typically associated with joint authorship?

Joint authorship is commonly characterized by multiple authors who equally contribute to a publication, making them qualified for first authorship. In scenarios of joint authorship, the contributions of each author can be substantial and equally valid, leading to the recognition as co-first authors. This arrangement reflects their collaborative efforts in conducting research, analyzing data, and writing the manuscript, ensuring that their roles in the research process are acknowledged proportionately.

The collaborative writing process, while relevant to many authorship situations, does not specifically define joint authorship. Instead, it refers to how the manuscript is produced, which may vary in degree across different teams and projects. Single-author manuscripts distinctly involve one author and therefore do not align with the concept of joint authorship, which inherently implies the involvement of multiple contributors. A designation for senior authors pertains to established experts who may oversee the research but are not necessarily involved in the primary data generation or manuscript writing, differing from the concept of equal contribution demonstrated in joint authorship situations.