Do I need to include the URL for every website citation?

In APA 7th edition, URLs are required for most online sources. However, if citing a well-known website like Wikipedia or government agencies, you may omit the URL and just use the domain name in some cases. Always check your institution's guidelines.

What information is required for a basic website citation?

Required information includes the author name (if available), publication date (or n.d. if unavailable), page or article title, website name (if different from domain), and the URL. Include a retrieval date only if the page content is likely to change.

How do I cite a website if there's no author listed?

If no author is available, begin with the website title or page title. Follow with the publication date (or n.d.), the organization name, and the URL. See our guide on citing sources with no author.

How to Cite a Website in APA 7th Edition

Website citations can be tricky because web content varies greatly in structure and completeness, but APA 7th edition provides clear guidelines for most scenarios. This guide covers all types of web sources from news sites to organizational pages, with practical examples and step-by-step instructions.

Basic Website Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for citing a webpage includes:

Author(s). (Year). Title of page. Website Name. Retrieved from URL

Or if no author:

Website Name or Organization. (Year). Title of page. Retrieved from URL

Example with Author:

Smith, J. A. (2023). How artificial intelligence is changing business. TechBlog.
https://www.techblog.com/ai-business-2023

Example without Author (Organization):

National Institute of Health. (2023). COVID-19 vaccination guidelines. Retrieved from
https://www.nih.gov/covid-vaccines

Step-by-Step Website Citation Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Author

Websites may have an individual author, an organization, or no identifiable author.

Individual Author:

Martinez, C. D.

Organization/Department:

American Psychological Association

No Author Available: Start with the page title instead (see Step 3).

Step 2: Include Publication Date

Include the year the page was published or last updated. Use the format (Year). If no date is available, use (n.d.) for “no date.”

Examples:

(2023)
(2022)
(n.d.)

Step 3: Write the Page Title

Use sentence case for the page title. Place titles in quotation marks if citing a specific article or page, but do not italicize website names unless they’re also the official name of the organization.

Example: “How artificial intelligence is changing business”

Step 4: Include the Website Name

If different from the domain name, include the organization or website name. This helps readers identify and locate the source.

Example: TechBlog, National Institute of Health, American Red Cross

Step 5: Add “Retrieved from” (if no publication date)

In APA 7th edition, “Retrieved from” is used only when there’s no publication date or when the page content is likely to change. For most websites with publication dates, it’s optional.

Example: Retrieved from https://www.techblog.com/ai-business-2023

Step 6: Include the Complete URL

Always include the complete, functioning URL. Include “https://” and verify the link works.

Example: https://www.techblog.com/ai-business-2023

Complete Citation Examples

Website with Individual Author and Publication Date

Thompson, L. K. (2023). Emerging trends in renewable energy. GreenTech News.
https://www.greentech.com/renewable-energy-trends

Website with Organization Author

Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Air quality standards and regulations. Retrieved from
https://www.epa.gov/air-quality

Website with Multiple Authors

Chen, L., Rodriguez, M., & Williams, K. (2023). Sustainable urban development practices.
City Planning Institute. https://www.cityplanning.org/urban-development

Website Page without Author (Use Organization)

World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health resources and support. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/mental-health

Website Page with Author and Organization

Anderson, R. J. (2023). Privacy policies explained. Electronic Frontier Foundation.
https://www.eff.org/privacy-explained

Website with No Publication Date

Davis, E. R. (n.d.). Photography techniques and tips. Digital Photography Academy.
Retrieved from https://www.digitalphotography.org/techniques

Government Website

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Vaccination schedules for children.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules

Non-Profit Organization Website

American Cancer Society. (2023). Understanding cancer diagnosis and treatment. Retrieved from
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/diagnosis

In-Text Citation Examples

When citing a webpage in your paper’s text, use the author’s last name and year. For direct quotes, include the page number or paragraph number.

Paraphrase:

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming business operations and decision-making
(Thompson, 2023).

Direct Quote (with page/paragraph):

"Renewable energy sources now comprise over 25% of global electricity generation"
(Thompson, 2023, para. 4).

No Author (use title):

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2023), air quality standards have been
significantly strengthened.

Special Website Citation Scenarios

Online News Article from Major Publication

Martinez, C. D. (2023, March 15). Scientists discover new approach to cancer treatment.
The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/cancer-treatment-discovery

Blog Post

Wilson, S. R. (2023). How to optimize your website for SEO. Marketing Blog Daily.
https://www.marketingblog.com/seo-optimization

Wikipedia Article

For Wikipedia, no author is usually listed. Include the retrieval date:

Artificial intelligence. (2023). In *Wikipedia*. Retrieved March 16, 2026, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence

For posts on social media platforms, see our How to Cite Social Media in APA guide.

Organizational Policy or White Paper

Acme Corporation. (2023). *Corporate social responsibility policy 2023-2024*. Retrieved from
https://www.acmecorp.com/csr-policy

Online Course or Tutorial

Johnson, R. B. (2023). Introduction to web development. Coursera. Retrieved from
https://www.coursera.org/courses/web-development

Website with Multiple Contributors (by Organization)

Stanford University Library. (2023). Research guides and information resources. Retrieved from
https://library.stanford.edu/guides

Archived Website Version

If citing an archived version, include the archive date:

Anderson, K. L. (2020). Company history and milestones. *Wayback Machine*. Retrieved March 16, 2026,
from https://web.archive.org/web/20200315000000*/example.com

When to Include vs. Omit Retrieval Date

Include retrieval date when:

The page content changes frequently or is time-sensitive
Citing a website like Wikipedia or online encyclopedia
No publication or update date is available
The source is temporary or likely to be removed

Omit retrieval date when:

A publication or update date is available
The page content is stable and unlikely to change
Citing a news article or published web article

URL vs. Domain Name Considerations

When to Use Full URL

Use the complete, functional URL for most sources. This allows readers to access the exact page cited.

https://www.techblog.com/ai-business-2023

When to Use Domain Name Only

For very well-known organizations and stable websites, some institutions accept domain names:

Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov

Check your institution’s specific guidelines.

Common Website Citation Errors to Avoid

Incomplete or broken URLs - Always verify the URL is complete and functional
Missing publication date - Include (n.d.) if no date is available
Incorrect capitalization - Use sentence case for page titles
Missing website name - Include the organization or website name for clarity
Omitting author information - Include if available, even for organizational pages
Inconsistent URL formatting - Always include https:// and verify accuracy
Forgetting to alphabetize - Verify reference list alphabetical order
Missing “Retrieved from” - Include when no publication date is available

Citing Different Types of Websites

Academic Institution Website

Harvard University. (2023). Admissions information and application process. Retrieved from
https://www.harvard.edu/admissions

Corporate Website

Microsoft Corporation. (2023). Product information and support. Retrieved from
https://www.microsoft.com

Personal Blog

Green, M. L. (2023). Thoughts on modern education. My Education Blog. Retrieved from
https://www.myeducationblog.com/education-thoughts

News Website

Thompson, L. K. (2023, March 10). Climate change impacts on agriculture revealed in new study.
BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/climate-agriculture-study

Using GenText to Generate Website Citations

Creating properly formatted website citations for diverse sources can be complicated. GenText’s citation generator handles all the variables automatically. Enter the author (if available), page title, website name, publication date, and URL, and GenText generates a complete, properly formatted citation.

Visit /tools/citation-generator/apa/ to generate website citations in seconds.

Verification Checklist

Before including a website citation in your reference list, verify:

✓ Author name is included (or organization if no individual author)
✓ Publication date is included (or n.d. if unavailable)
✓ Page title is in sentence case without quotation marks
✓ Website name is included for identification
✓ URL is complete and functional
✓ “Retrieved from” is included only when appropriate
✓ Entry is alphabetically ordered in reference list
✓ Hanging indent is applied to the citation

Website sources are now essential to academic research. By following these APA 7th edition guidelines, you’ll ensure your web citations are accurate, complete, and professionally formatted.