What is self-referential?

Self-referential refers to anything that refers to or describes itself. It is a concept often used in philosophy, mathematics, and language theories. In literature, self-referentiality refers to texts that draw attention to their status as literary works or that acknowledge the reader's role in interpreting them. Self-referentiality is also commonly found in computer programming, where a program can refer to itself or parts of its code. Additionally, self-referential behavior can be observed in humans when they reflect on their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.