Citing a database feels like a trick question. You don’t actually cite the database itself, like JSTOR, as a standalone entry in your references list. Instead, you cite the specific article, book, or other source you found within that database. The real task is figuring out what database information to include in the citation for that source. This distinction trips up many students. The database is your digital library where you search for sources. This guide provides examples to help you create proper references.
TLDR: The Core Idea
When you find sources like journal articles, book chapters, or e-books in an academic database, your citation focuses on the source itself. You generally only add the database information if the source is hard to find elsewhere or if the database produces its own original content. For most common journal articles from popular databases, you’ll end the citation with a DOI. If there’s no DOI, you often just treat it like the print version or, depending on the style guide, use a stable URL. Always prioritize the DOI when available.
Why Does Database Citation Get So Confusing?
The confusion around how to cite a database stems from the clash of old print-based citation styles with new technology. We now access most research through a digital database that aggregates countless works. Your search might yield articles, books, and even videos. The core question for any citation style is whether the database is just a location or part of the publication information. Different guides give different answers, creating uncertainty. The meaning of a ‘source’ can feel fluid.
A quick tip: Many academic databases have a “Cite” button that generates a citation for you. These are great starting points, but you must always review them for accuracy. They often make small formatting errors. A free citation generator can also help create and manage your references, but the rule remains the same: always review the output to ensure all details are in the correct order.
Focus on the Source, Not the Store
Most of the time, you should not include the name of the database in your citation for a journal article. This is the official stance of APA style. The same journal article might be available across multiple databases and in print. Your reader doesn’t need your exact digital footsteps; they just need enough information to find the source themselves from whatever database they can access. You should provide enough information for them to do their own search.
Imagine telling a friend about a song you found on the web. You’d tell them the artist and song title, not that you heard it on Spotify—that’s not readily useful if they use Apple Music. The same logic applies to most academic works. You provide the author’s name, date, title, and publication details. A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is the best way to point to it, as it’s a permanent link to the content, regardless of the database. It’s more stable than a typical URL.
When You MUST Name the Database
Of course, there are exceptions. You absolutely should include the name of the database in your citation in two main situations:
- Original, Proprietary Content: Some databases publish their own material that you can’t get anywhere else. Think of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews or clinical resources like UpToDate. In these cases, the database is the publisher, and its name is a critical piece of retrieval information.
- Works of Limited Circulation: This category includes items like dissertations from ProQuest or reports from specialized databases like ERIC. These works aren’t widely distributed like major journal articles, so naming the specific database is essential. It’s the only reliable place to find them on the internet, much like a specific profile on Facebook.
Deconstructing the Citation: A Visual Example
Let’s break down an MLA citation for a journal article from a database. This example shows how each piece of information has a role. This structured chaos is what makes academic writing work.
Ahmed, Sara. “A Phenomenology of Whiteness.” Feminist Theory, vol. 8, no. 2, Aug. 2007, pp. 149-68. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1177/1464700107078139.
- Author’s Name: Who wrote the work.
- Article Title: The specific piece you are citing.
- Journal Title: The larger publication it belongs to.
- Volume and Issue: The specific edition of the journal.
- Publication Date: When it was published.
- Pages: The location within the journal (a single page or range of pages).
- Name of the Database: Where you found it (MLA style includes this).
- DOI or URL: The stable link to access the source.
Comparing the Major Styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago
The biggest challenge in citing database sources is that the rules change depending on your required citation type. Here’s a quick comparison for a standard journal article. For more on APA’s specific rules, check out their guide on Database Information in References.
| Style | Do you name the database? | What kind of link do you use? |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | No, unless it’s a proprietary database (UpToDate) or has limited circulation (ERIC). | DOI is required if available. If no DOI and the article is from an academic database, you treat it as a print source (no URL). If it’s from the open web, include the URL. |
| MLA 9 | Yes, the name of the database is usually included in italics. When in doubt, providing the path helps the reader. Databases can be tricky. | DOI is preferred. If no DOI, use a stable URL (a “permalink”). |
| Chicago 17 | It’s recommended to include it, especially if it helps your reader locate the source. | DOI is strongly preferred. If not available, a stable URL from the database is the next best option. |
In-Text Citation: The Constant Companion
Your full references list entry has a partner: the in-text citation. This brief reference in your paper points readers to the full citation in your works cited list. For most author-date styles, the in-text citation for a database source is identical to any other source. You use the author’s last name and the year of publication or a page number; finding it in a database doesn’t change the in-text citation. We will refer to more examples below.
APA In-Text Citation Example: Recent studies suggest that “whiteness can be a location of structural advantage” (Ahmed, 2007, p. 150).
MLA In-Text Citation Example: Ahmed argues that whiteness operates as “a location of structural advantage” (150).
Mastering these different formats can be a pain. But it’s a fundamental skill in academic writing. If you need more guidance, this resource on Mastering Citations can be a lifesaver for your works cited list.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I handle a source with no author from a database?
When a work has no credited author, you move the title to the author position. For your in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks. For example, an article titled “The Future of Renewable Energy” would have a full reference starting with the title and relevant dates. The in-text citation would be (“Future of Renewable,” 2023).
How to cite a database in Harvard style?
Harvard is a parenthetical referencing style similar to APA. For a journal article from a database, the format is generally: Author’s Last Name, Initial(s). (Year of publication) ‘Article title’, Journal Title, Volume(Issue), pp. Page range. Available from: Name of the Database or URL. [Accessed: Date accessed]. The in-text citation would be (Author’s Last Name, Year).
How to cite a database in IEEE style?
IEEE uses a numbered system. In your text, you put a number in brackets [1]. That number corresponds to a full citation in your references list. For a journal article from a database, the format is: [1] Author Initial(s). Last Name, “Article Title,” Abbrev. Journal Title, vol. X, no. X, pp. xxx-xxx, Month Year. [Online]. Available: Name of database. Accessed: Month Day, Year. If a DOI is available, it’s preferred over the database name and access date (dates are important).