The basic APA format for a web page

An APA citation for a website includes the author's name, publication date, page title, website name, and URL — in that order. If no author is listed, start with the page title instead. The format looks like this: Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Page title. Website Name. Retrieved from URL

For example: Smith, J. (2023). How solar panels work. Energy Education. https://www.energyeducation.com/solar-panels

The key difference from print sources is that you include a URL instead of a publisher location and name. You do not need to add "Retrieved from" before the URL in the most recent APA style (7th edition), though some instructors still expect it — check your assignment guidelines.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with the author's last name and first initial, followed by the year in parentheses; if no author exists, begin with the page title instead.
  • The page title goes in regular text, the website name goes in italics, and the full URL goes at the end with no period after it.
  • If the page has no publication date, write (n.d.) in place of the year.
  • Corporate authors, government agencies, and organizations can be listed as the author if no individual name appears on the page.

When the author is an organization or government agency

Many web pages are published by organizations, government departments, or companies rather than individual people. In these cases, use the organization's name as the author. Start with the organization name, then the year, then the page title and website.

For example: American Heart Association. (2022). Warning signs of a heart attack. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/heartattack-signs

If the organization name is very long, you can shorten it in your in-text citation after the first mention. For instance, after citing the American Heart Association once in full, later citations can use (AHA, 2022).

Handling pages with no author or publication date

Some web pages do not list an author or a clear publication date. When there is no author, move the page title to the author position. When there is no date, write (n.d.), which stands for "no date."

Example with no author: How to identify phishing emails. (2021). Cybersecurity Tips. https://www.cybersecurity-tips.com/phishing

Example with no date: Johnson, M. (n.d.). Introduction to web design. Design Basics. https://www.designbasics.com/intro

If a page has neither author nor date, use both the title first and (n.d.) for the year. This is less common but does happen with archived or older educational pages.

Citing a specific section or article within a larger website

If you are citing a blog post, news article, or specific page within a larger site, treat it as you would any other web page. The page title goes in regular text, and the larger website or publication name goes in italics.

Example: Rodriguez, T. (2024). Five ways to improve your sleep. Health Daily. https://www.healthdaily.com/sleep-tips

Do not include the website's main domain name separately if it is already part of the URL. The URL itself tells readers where to find the source, so adding redundant information clutters the citation.

What to do when the publication date is unclear

Some websites show multiple dates — when the page was first published, when it was last updated, or when you accessed it. Use the publication date (when the page first went live) if it is clearly marked. If only an update date is visible, use that instead.

You do not need to include the date you accessed the page in APA 7th edition, unless your instructor specifically asks for it. Older APA guidelines required an access date, but current style no longer does because URLs are permanent enough to relocate sources.

If a page shows "Last updated: March 2023" but no original publication date, use 2023 as your year. If the page gives no date information at all, use (n.d.).

Formatting the citation in your paper

In your reference list at the end of your paper, arrange all citations in alphabetical order by the author's last name. Each citation should use a hanging indent — the first line starts at the left margin, and all following lines are indented half an inch.

In the text of your paper, cite the source in parentheses with the author's last name and year: (Smith, 2023). If you mention the author's name in your sentence, include only the year in parentheses: "According to Smith (2023), solar panels..."

Do not underline the URL or put it in angle brackets. Write it as plain text, and most word processors will automatically format it as a hyperlink. If your instructor asks you to remove hyperlinks, you can do that in your document settings.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most frequent error is putting the website name in regular text instead of italics. Remember: the website or publication name is always italicized, while the page title is not. Another common mistake is including "www" or "https://" as a separate element — the URL should be complete and exact as it appears in your browser.

Do not add extra punctuation after the URL. APA style ends the citation with the URL itself, with no period following it. Also avoid including access dates unless your instructor requires them or the page is likely to change (such as a wiki or social media post).

If you are unsure whether something is the author, website name, or page title, look at the page structure. The author usually appears near the byline or at the top of the article. The website name typically appears in the header or footer. The page title is the main heading at the top of the content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to include the access date for internet sources?

No, not in APA 7th edition. Access dates are no longer required because URLs are stable enough to locate sources. However, if your instructor or publication specifically asks for access dates, include them in parentheses after the URL: (retrieved March 15, 2024).

What if a website has no clear publication date anywhere on the page?

Use (n.d.) in place of the year. This tells readers that no date was available. If the page shows only an update date and no original publication date, use the update date instead.

Should I include the full URL or just the domain name?

Include the full URL that leads directly to the page you cited. This helps readers find the exact source. You do not need to add "http://" or "https://" — most citation generators and word processors recognize URLs automatically.

How do I cite a social media post or tweet?

Social media posts follow a slightly different format. Include the author's name, the date of the post, the text of the post in quotation marks, the platform name, and the URL. For example: Smith, J. [@jsmith]. (2024, January 15). Just launched our new website [Tweet]. https://twitter.com/jsmith/status/123456

Can I use a shortened URL or link shortener instead of the full URL?

It is better to use the full, permanent URL from the website itself rather than a shortened link. Shortened URLs can break or redirect over time, making it harder for readers to find your source. If you must use a shortened URL, verify that it still works before submitting your paper.