A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles on various subjects.
Magazines are typically published weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or quarterly, with a date on the cover that is in advance of the date it is actually published. They are often printed in color on coated paper.
Magazines usually have articles on popular topics of interest to the general public and are written at the reading level of most of the population. An academic periodical featuring scholarly articles written in a more specialist register is usually called a "journal." While "Periodical" is the word usually used to describe magazines, journals, newspapers, newsletters, and anything else that is published in regular intervals for an indefinite period of time. "Serial" is sometimes used, as well.
Many weekend newspapers now incorporate magazine supplements with a magazine-like format.
The oldest magazine still in print is The Scots Magazine, which was first published in 1739.