When citing a website in APA style, as guided by the Owl at Purdue, you generally follow a specific format to ensure that your reference is properly formatted. The APA style for citing a website can vary slightly depending on whether the website has an author, a publication date, or a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). Here is how you cite a website according to the APA’s Publication Manual (7th ed.) as interpreted by the Owl at Purdue:
Basic Website Citation
For a basic website citation without a specific author or publication date, you would use the following format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of webpage. Retrieved from https://www.url.com
- If the author is unknown, start with the title of the webpage and use title case.
- If the publication date is unknown, use “n.d.” (no date) in the parentheses.
Examples:
With Author: Johnson, K. (2022, February 20). How to cite a website. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/cite
Without Author or Date: How to cite a website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.example.com/cite
No Author, No Date, but with a Retrieval Date (only used in APA 6th edition, not recommended in APA 7th edition unless the content is likely to change): APA style. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/style
Citation with Group Authors
If the website is authored by a group (like an organization), the name of the group can be used as the author.
Example: American Psychological Association. (2022, January 11). APA style. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/style
In-text Citation
For in-text citations, the format varies depending on the availability of the author and the date.
- With Author and Date: (Johnson, 2022)
- Without Author, With Date: (“How to cite,” 2022)
- Without Author or Date: (“How to cite,” n.d.)
Important Notes
- APA style recommends that DOIs or URLs be used for online sources when available.
- It’s always a good idea to check the most current version of the APA Publication Manual or the APA website for the latest guidelines.
- The Owl at Purdue provides an excellent resource for staying up-to-date with citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago.
When in doubt, using online citation tools or consulting the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual can provide more detailed guidance on how to cite sources, including websites, according to APA standards.
