How to Cite the Website Source

Learn how to cite a website source using MLA or APA style.

Citing website sources reflects citing books and periodicals. With the various types of websites and citation styles, citing website sources may become confusing. For a typical website source, however, you can learn a basic citation style using the two most common reference style citations, MLA and APA.



APA style differs slightly from MLA style when referencing articles in regard to the digital object identifier. URLs transform over time, so mostly online journals and books use DOI to identify individual works in the event the URL changes or dissolves. Website sources containing DOIs must include the unique identifier within the citation. Online magazines and newsletters typically do not partake in the DOI initiative and lack the unique identifier.

Things You'll Need

• Website source
• Written document

Instructions

APA Style Citations

1. List the author's last and first name in the respective order. If you cannot find an author, list the organization or company's name, webmaster or website maintainer. Begin the citation with the Web page's title, followed by the publication date when no author information appears.

2. Record the website's publication date, copyright date or latest update if available. Include the month and the day in the publication date if provided. Use "n.d.," meaning "no date," if a date does not appear.

3. Follow up with the article or Web page title. If citing a source from a larger website with a collection of articles, list the name of the larger website after the title.

4. Type the words "Retrieved From" and copy and paste the website source's direct URL afterward. For online journals and articles which contain a DOI, list the unique identifier following the URL.

MLA Style Citations

1. List the author's last name followed by the first name. If you cannot find an author, start the citation with the source's title.

2. Place the title of the article or source in quotation marks. Do not list the title of the overall website, but only the actual title of the page within the larger website.

3. Follow the article's title with the title of the parent website.

4. List the publication date or date of the most recent update if available. If a publishing date fails to appear, use "n.d.," meaning "no date."

5. List the source's URL, followed by the date you accessed the Web source at the end of the citation.

Tips & Warnings

• The basic format for APA style citations should look like the following:

• Website source with an author

• Author, A.A. (Date of publication or n.d.). Page Title. Retrieved from URL. DOI.

• Website source without an author

• Page Title. (Date of publication or n.d.). Retrieved from URL. DOI.

• The basic format for MLA style citations should look like the following:

• Author. Page Title. Website Name/Title. Publication date or n.d. Retrieved from URL. Date of Access

• Page Title. Website Name/Title. Publication date or n.d. Retrieved from URL. Date of Access

References

• Purdue Online Writing Lab: MLA Works Cited--Electronic Sources (Web Publications)
• Northern Michigan University: APA Reference Style Guide
• Westfield State College Ely Library: APA Style--How to Document Information