How to Cite Web Pages

Learn how to create citations for individual web pages and online articles in APA format.

Basic Format

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL

Note: If the web page is likely to change over time, include a retrieval date before the URL.

Examples

Web Page with Individual Author

Smith, J. (2023, June 15). Understanding APA citations. Writing Center Guide. https://example.com/apa-guide
  • • Author's last name followed by initials
  • • Full date if available
  • • Title of the specific page
  • • Website name in italics
  • • Direct URL to the page

Web Page with Organization as Author

American Psychological Association. (2023). APA style guidelines. https://www.apa.org/style
  • • Organization name spelled out
  • • Year of publication
  • • No site name when same as author

Web Page with No Author

Citation guidelines for academic writing. (2023, July 1). University Writing Center. https://example.edu/guidelines
  • • Begin with title of the page
  • • Include date if available
  • • Include site name

Web Page with No Date

Johnson, M. (n.d.). Guide to online citations. Research Portal. https://example.org/citations
  • • Use "n.d." when no date is available
  • • Include all other available information

Special Cases

Frequently Updated Pages

National Weather Service. (n.d.). Current weather conditions [Weather map]. Retrieved August 8, 2023, from https://weather.gov

For pages that are frequently updated, include a retrieval date before the URL.

Pages in Another Language

García, A. (2023). Guía de estilo APA [APA style guide]. Universidad Nacional. https://example.es/apa

Include an English translation of the title in square brackets immediately after the original title.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't include the protocol (http:// or https://) in the citation unless required for clarity
  • Don't include retrieval dates for content that won't change
  • Don't cite the homepage when you're referencing a specific page
  • Don't include unnecessary navigation information in the URL
  • Don't include URLs that require login credentials

Tips for Online Citations

URL Best Practices

  • Use permanent links when available
  • Verify URLs before submitting
  • Break URLs before punctuation
  • Consider using URL shorteners for very long URLs

When to Archive

  • Important sources that might disappear
  • Frequently updated content
  • News articles and blog posts
  • Temporary or seasonal content