How to Cite a Website in APA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite webpages, online articles, and web content in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APA format for citing a website in your reference list:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. https://www.example.com/page
APA Example for a Website
A complete APA reference for a website, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Larsen, S. (2024, May 14). How peer review works. Open Science Digest. https://www.example.org/peer-review
Matching in-text citation: (Larsen, 2024)
APA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Smith, 2024)
Narrative
Smith (2024) found that...
Key APA Formatting Rules
- Italicize the title of the webpage.
- Include the site name in plain text (omit if same as author).
- Use the full URL — no period after the URL.
- Include a retrieval date only if the content is likely to change.
- If no author, start with the title.
- If no date, use (n.d.).
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your website.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: apa.csl
Metadata to collect
- author or responsible organization
- page title
- site name
- publication or update date
- stable URL
Common metadata traps
- Do not use a copyright year as the page publication date without evidence.
- Remove tracking parameters when a clean canonical URL is available.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a website in APA?
- To cite a website in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the APA format for a website citation?
- The APA format for a website is: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. https://www.example.com/page
- What does the in-text citation look like for a website in APA?
- In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith, 2024)
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