How to Cite a Website in APA Format
Citing websites in APA 7th edition format requires the author, date, title, and URL. This guide provides step-by-step instructions with examples for both in-text citations and reference list entries.
Basic Format for Website Citations in APA
Reference list entry:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL
In-text citation:
- Parenthetical: (Author, Year)
- Narrative: Author (Year)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Identify the Author
The author can be an individual, multiple authors, or an organization. If no author is listed, use the website or organization name.
2. Find the Publication Date
Look for the date the page was published or last updated. If no date is available, use (n.d.) for "no date."
3. Get the Page Title
Use the title of the specific webpage, not the website name. Italicize the title in your reference list.
4. Note the Website Name
Include the website or publisher name if it differs from the author.
5. Copy the URL
Use the full URL from the address bar. Do not include "Retrieved from" before the URL in APA 7th edition.
Examples
Website with Individual Author
Reference list:
Smith, J. (2025, January 15). How climate change affects biodiversity. Environmental Science Daily. https://www.example.com/climate-biodiversity
In-text citation:
(Smith, 2025)
Website with Organizational Author
Reference list:
World Health Organization. (2024, March 10). Global health observatory data. https://www.who.int/data/gho
In-text citation:
(World Health Organization, 2024)
Website with No Author
Reference list:
Understanding machine learning basics. (2023, June 5). AI Hub. https://www.example.com/ml-basics
In-text citation:
("Understanding Machine Learning Basics," 2023)
Website with No Date
Reference list:
Johnson, M. (n.d.). Best practices for remote work. https://www.example.com/remote-work
In-text citation:
(Johnson, n.d.)
Common Questions
Do I need to include a retrieval date?
Only include a retrieval date if the content is likely to change over time (like Wikipedia or live data). Format: Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL
What if the URL is very long?
Use the full URL as it appears in the address bar. You can break long URLs before punctuation marks, but don't add hyphens or line breaks.
Should I include the access date?
APA 7th edition does not require access dates for most web sources unless the content changes frequently (e.g., social media, wikis).
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