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Purpose The attention-based view (ABV) conceives the origins of organizational strategy as a function of how attention is distributed, directed and constrained within the firm. Yet, its application across diverse domains has fragmented the field and obscured its intellectual coherence. This study aims to map the intellectual structure and evolution of ABV research to clarify its theoretical trajectory. Specifically, this study identifies the main theoretical foundations, dominant themes, emerging and declining topics and assesses whether ABV constitutes a unified research stream. This study also outlines key directions for future research. Design/methodology/approach This study uses bibliometric techniques to systematically analyze 537 articles published between 1997 and 2023. Findings This study’s analysis identifies five thematic clusters in ABV research, with a strong emphasis on cognitive and contextual perspectives. However, engagement with the structural distribution of attention, ABV’s original premise, remains limited. Over time, intellectual trajectories have increasingly shifted toward managerial cognition and board-level attention, while structural and institutional perspectives have comparatively declined. Research limitations/implications As with most bibliometric studies, the scope is limited by database coverage and citation-based measures. Future studies could complement the analysis with qualitative or empirical studies. Practical implications Understanding attention allocation mechanisms can inform how organizations prioritize issues, manage resources and adapt strategically to changing environments. Social implications ABV’s emphasis on how organizations attend to societal and stakeholder issues can provide insights into decision-making in public and nonprofit sectors. Originality/value This study provides one of the first comprehensive bibliometric mappings of the ABV literature. By identifying major themes, underexplored areas and future research opportunities, this study offers a roadmap for theory development within the ABV framework.