It provides publications through which scientific research is distributed worldwide, including journals, community websites, magazines, conference proceedings and books.

Any financial surplus earned by IOP Publishing goes to support physics through the activities of the Institute[citation needed].

In January 1996 the organization launched the full electronic journals programme on the World Wide Web, ahead of other physics publishers.

It also picked up an honourable mention for best Design Cover in the Association/Non-Profit (B-to-B) category in the Ozzie Awards.

[9] In 2014 IOP Publishing and the American Astronomical Society announced an electronic book publishing partnership as part of the AAS's mission to enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe.