How to Cite a Website in APA Format
A step-by-step guide to APA 7th edition website citations — with real examples for web pages, blog posts, news articles, government sites, and pages with no author.
APA Website Citation Format (7th Edition)
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the specific page. Site Name. URL
In-text citation:
(Author, Year)
Example:
(World Health Organization, 2023)
APA Website Citation Examples
Standard Web Page (with author)
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL
Example:
Johnson, M. (2023, September 12). The impact of social media on academic performance. Education Today. https://example.com/social-media-study
In-text:
(Johnson, 2023)
Web Page (no author)
Format:
Title of page. (Year, Month Day). Site Name. URL
Example:
Mental health resources for students. (2024, January 5). National Student Wellness. https://example.com/mental-health
In-text:
(Mental Health Resources, 2024)
Government or Organisation Website
Format:
Organisation Name. (Year, Month Day). Title. URL
Example:
World Health Organization. (2023, October 1). Global health statistics. https://www.who.int/data
In-text:
(World Health Organization, 2023)
Blog Post
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of post [Blog post]. Blog Name. URL
Example:
Chen, L. (2022, July 18). 10 study techniques backed by science [Blog post]. Learning Science Lab. https://example.com/study-techniques
In-text:
(Chen, 2022)
No Date Available
Format:
Author, A. A. (n.d.). Title. Site Name. URL
Example:
Brown, T. (n.d.). How to write a research paper. Academic Writing Hub. https://example.com/research-paper
In-text:
(Brown, n.d.)
Key Rules for APA Website Citations
- Include the specific URL of the page you accessed, not just the homepage.
- Do not add a period after a URL at the end of a reference.
- Italicise the title of the standalone web page, article, or document.
- If there is no individual author, use the organisation or site name as the author.
- Access dates are only required for sources that may change over time (e.g. wikis).
- Use “n.d.” (no date) if no publication date is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an access date for APA web citations?
What if the website has no author?
How do I cite a tweet or social media post in APA?
Does APA 7th edition require DOIs?
Disclaimer
Always verify citations against the official APA Publication Manual (7th edition) or your institution's style guide. Your institution may have specific requirements that differ from standard APA guidelines.