How to Cite a Website in BibTeX (standard)
Learn how to cite webpages, online articles, and web content in BibTeX format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
BibTeX Reference List Format
Here is the standard BibTeX format for citing a website in your reference list:
BibTeX Example for a Website
A complete BibTeX reference for a website, formatted by the official BibTeX CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
@misc{Larsen2024How, note = {[Online; accessed 2026-01-10]}, author = {Larsen, Sofie}, year = {2024}, month = {may 14}, title = {How peer review works}, url = {https://www.example.org/peer-review}, howpublished = {https://www.example.org/peer-review}, }
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 BibTeX (standard) 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 BibTeX 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: bibtex.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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a website in BibTeX?
- To cite a website in BibTeX (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the BibTeX format for a website citation?
- The BibTeX format for a website is: @misc{Larsen2024How, note = {[Online; accessed 2026-01-10]}, author = {Larsen, Sofie}, year = {2024}, month = {may 14}, title = {How peer review works}, url = {https://www.example.org/peer-review}, howpublished = {https://www.example.org/peer-review}, }
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