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