凝聚態研究、材料科學和生命科學中的許多研究課題都是利用晶體學的方法來研究含有中子、x射線和電子的晶體和非晶體物質。發表在《應用晶體學雜志》上的文章重點介紹了這些方法及其在識別結構和擴散控制的相變、結構-性能關系、缺陷、界面和表面的結構變化等方面的應用。介紹了儀器儀表和晶體學儀器、理論與解釋、數值分析等相關學科的發展。該期刊是晶體學計算機程序信息發表的主要場所。

Many research topics in condensed matter research, materials science and the life sciences make use of crystallographic methods to study crystalline and non-crystalline matter with neutrons, X-rays and electrons. Articles published in Journal of Applied Crystallography focus on these methods and their use in identifying structural and diffusion-controlled phase transformations, structure-property relationships, structural changes of defects, interfaces and surfaces, etc. Developments of instrumentation and crystallographic apparatus, theory and interpretation, numerical analysis and other related subjects are also covered. The journal is the primary place where crystallographic computer program information is published.