Publication dates: accepted date, version of record online, issue online – which one to use? I have seen the other questions regarding which publication date to use, and it seems clear to use what the publisher uses.  But what if the publisher provides several dates such as the following? 


Issue online: 25 January 2016
Version of record online: 25 October 2015
Accepted manuscript online: 7 October 2015


I find these definitions confusing. Which data should be used as the official publication year? What does version of record online even mean; is it important?
A journal citation looks like


  Last, F. M., &amp; Last, F. M. (Year Published). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pp. Pages.


Since it refers to a specific volume and issue, you should use the date that issue was published. (For your example, that is 25 January 2016.)