How do I cite a website in PLOS?

To cite a website in PLOS (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a website in PLOS?

In PLOS, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]

How to Cite a Website in PLOS (current)

Learn how to cite webpages, online articles, and web content in PLOS format (current). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

PLOS Reference List Format

Here is the standard PLOS format for citing a website in your reference list:

PLOS Example for a Website

A complete PLOS reference for a website, formatted by the official PLOS CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

1. Larsen S. How peer review works. In: Open Science Digest [Internet]. 14 May 2024 [cited 10 Jan 2026]. Available: https://www.example.org/peer-review

Matching in-text citation: [1]

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 PLOS (current) 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 PLOS 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: plos.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.

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a website in PLOS?: To cite a website in PLOS (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the PLOS format for a website citation?: The PLOS format for a website is: 1. Larsen S. How peer review works. In: Open Science Digest [Internet]. 14 May 2024 [cited 10 Jan 2026]. Available: https://www.example.org/peer-review
What does the in-text citation look like for a website in PLOS?: In PLOS, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]