Short-chain　perfluorocarboxylic　acids　(PFCAs)　are　a　class　of　persistent　organic　pollutants　that　are　widely　used　as　substitutes　for　long-chain　PFCAs.　However,　they　also　pose　a　non-negligible　risk　to　ecosystems.　In　this　study,　we　demonstrated　that　a　fluorescent　metal–organic　framework　(MOF)　(named　V-101)　constructed　from　In3+　and　an　aromatic-rich　tetratopic　carboxylate　ligand　5-[2,6-bis　(4-carboxyphenyl)　pyridin-4-yl]　isophthalic　acid　(H4BCPIA)　exhibited　highly　efficient　turn-off　and　turn-on　fluorescence　responses　toward　five　short-chain　PFCAs　in　water　and　methanol,　respectively.　The　limits　of　detection　of　V-101　toward　five　short-chain　PFCAs　are　down　to　μg/L　level,　and　it　showed　good　anti-interference　abilities　toward　short-chain　PFCAs　in　the　presence　of　common　metal　ions.　The　major　mechanisms　associated　with　fluorescence　responses　were　molecular　collisions　and　interactions　between　V-101　and　short-chain　PFCAs.　This　work　demonstrates　that　the　structure　variety　of　MOFs　imparts　them　with　the　potential　of　MOFs　in　the　detection　of　short-chain　PFCAs　for　pollution　control.　©　2023,　The　Author(s).