Citing a Website in an Essay: APA and MLA Reference Guide

Understanding how to cite a website in an essay is one of the most important skills in academic writing. A strong essay relies on credible, well-sourced information—and proper citation proves your ideas are grounded in facts, not plagiarism. The internet has made finding online information faster, but knowing the correct citation format for websites is just as critical as locating sources. This guide walks you through writing a well-cited essay with step-by-step examples for APA, MLA, and Chicago style.

In addition to digital versions of printed materials, you’ll discover a wealth of online-only content, such as blogs and research reports. If you want to incorporate this information into your essay, it’s important to understand how to cite websites correctly. This article will guide you through the process, highlighting the citation methods for two popular styles: APA and MLA.

Note: Examples below are for the reference list entry only. For in-text citation guidelines, check — How to Cite a Source in an Essay.

Understanding the Essential Elements

Every website citation—whether in APA, MLA, or Chicago style—includes the same core elements: the author’s name, the publication date, the page title, the website name, and the URL. Knowing which elements to include, and in what order, is the foundation of accurate citation. Miss one element and your reference becomes difficult to verify; include them all and your reader can trace your source directly. These components also tie into how you use evidence in your body paragraphs—strong citations reinforce strong arguments.

• Author: The first piece of the puzzle is the author’s name. If available, this typically includes the last name and initials of the author. Sometimes, you might have an organization or a company as the author. Remember, proper citation respects the hard work of the original creator.
• Date: The next element is the publication date. This is the year, and often the month and day, when the content was published or last updated. Dates are crucial as they allow readers to determine the timeliness and relevance of the source.
• Site Name: The name of the website where the content is published.
• Title: Here, we’re talking about the title of the web page or article. Be accurate and copy the article title exactly as it appears on the website. Remember, it’s a direct reflection of the content.
• Source: Finally, where did you find the information? This could be the website’s URL. This helps readers trace back to the original source if they wish.
• Page Number: If the source includes numbered pages, paragraphs, or sections, these details are included, particularly in direct quotations.
• Retrieval Date: For online sources that are likely to change over time (like a Wiki page), APA style recommends adding a retrieval date.

The order and format of these elements may vary between APA and MLA styles, but their inclusion remains constant across both. Understanding these components is the first step in mastering the art of proper citation. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the specific rules of each style in the following sections.

Quick Comparison: APA vs. MLA Website Citations

APA and MLA are the two most widely required citation styles in academic essays. APA style places the date immediately after the author’s name and uses a full https:// URL, while MLA style puts the date near the end of the entry and omits the http(s):// prefix from the URL. Both styles italicize the website name and require a descriptive page title. Before you start your essay outline, decide which citation style your assignment requires, then use the table below to format each reference correctly.

Element	APA Style	MLA Style
Author format	Last, F. I. (initials)	Last, First Name.
Date position	Immediately after author	Near end of entry
Title format	Sentence case, no quotation marks	“Title Case,” in quotation marks
URL/Source	Full https:// URL	URL without http(s)://
Accessed date	Only for content likely to change	“Accessed Day Month Year”
Site name	In italics after title	In italics after title

How to Cite a Website in APA

To cite a website in APA style, list the author’s last name and initials, followed by the publication date in parentheses, the page title in sentence case (no quotation marks), the website name in italics, and the full URL. The standard format is: Last, F. I. (Year, Month Day). Page title. Website Name. https://url. If there is no author, begin with the page title; if there is no date, use (n.d.) in its place. APA 7th edition is the current standard for most academic institutions. Proper formatting also helps your professor see that you understand standard essay formatting rules.

• 1. Author(s): Start your citation with the author’s last name, followed by a comma, and then the author’s initials. If there’s more than one author, list them in the order they appear on the website, separating each with a comma, and use an ampersand (&) before the last author. If no author is listed, begin with the article title.
  • Example: Johnson, A. B., & Smith, C. D.
• 2. Date: Next, include the publication date in parentheses. If no date is provided, use (n.d.) for “no date.”
  • Example: (2023, January 1)
• 3. Title: The title of the article or web page comes next, in sentence case (only the first word and any proper nouns capitalized). If no title is given, provide a short description of the content.
  • Example: How to bake bread at home
• 4. Website Name: After the title, include the site name. If the site name and the publisher are the same, you only need to list it once.
  • Example: Baking 101
• 5. URL: Finally, conclude your citation with the full URL where the content is found. Make sure to use the complete https:// address so readers can locate the original online source.
  • Example: https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home

The final website citation would look like this:

Johnson, A. B., & Smith, C. D. (2023, January 1). How to bake bread at home. Baking 101. https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home

Understanding how to cite web pages in APA style is just the starting point. Keep in mind that more complicated scenarios come with their own set of guidelines. For instance, citing works with multiple authors, those without an author, or sources with no publication date each have specific rules to follow.

Exceptions

• 1. No Author: If there’s no author, start with the title of the work, followed by the date.
  • Example: How to bake bread at home. (2023, January 1). Baking 101. https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home
• 2. No Date: If there’s no publication date available, use “n.d.” where the date should be.
  • Example: Johnson, A. B., & Smith, C. D. (n.d.). How to bake bread at home. Baking 101. https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home
• 3. Multiple Authors: For more than two authors, separate the authors’ names with commas and use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name.
  • Example: Johnson, A. B., Smith, C. D., & Lee, E. F. (2023, January 1). How to bake bread at home. Baking 101. https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home
• 4. Organization as Author: If the author is an organization, include the organization’s name as the author.
  • Example: American Baking Association. (2023, January 1). How to bake bread at home. Baking 101. https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home
• 5. Content Likely to Change Over Time: If you cite a web page that is likely to get updated or changed over time (like a Wiki page), include the retrieval date.
  • Example: American Baking Association. (2023, January 1). How to bake bread at home. Baking 101. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home

These are just common exceptions. Always refer to an APA style guide or manual for the most accurate and up-to-date website citation rules.

If in doubt, you can always use our APA Citation Generator to generate correct references in seconds.

How to Cite a Website in MLA

To cite a website in MLA style, list the author’s last name first, then the first name, followed by the page title in quotation marks, the website name in italics, the publisher (if different from the site name), the publication date in day-month-year format, and the URL without the http(s):// prefix. The standard MLA 9th edition format is: Last, First. “Page Title.” Website Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, www.url.com. If no date is given, include an accessed date at the end instead. For broader guidance on how citations fit into your essay structure, see our complete writing guide.

• 1. Author(s): Begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma, and the first name. If there’s more than one author, list them in the order they appear on the website, separating each with a comma. Use “and” before the last author. If no author is listed, begin with the title.
  • Example: Johnson, Amy B., and Charles D. Smith.
• 2. Title: Next, include the title of the web page or article in quotation marks. Use sentence case.
  • Example: “How to Bake Bread at Home.”
• 3. Website Name: Include the name of the entire website in italics after the title.
  • Example: Baking 101,
• 4. Publisher: If a known publisher exists and is different from the name of the site, include it after the site name.
  • Example: Johnson Publishing,
• 5. Date: Add the publication date in the day-month-year format. If no date is given, leave this part out.
  • Example: 1 Jan. 2023,
• 6. URL: End with the full URL without http:// or https:// prefix.
  • Example: www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home

The final website citation would look like this:

Johnson, Amy B., and Charles D. Smith. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, Johnson Publishing, 1 Jan. 2023, www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.

Be sure to adhere to your institution’s formatting guidelines. Typically, MLA citations should be double-spaced and written in a clear font, such as Times New Roman.

Exceptions

Now, let’s go over the exceptions:

• 1. No Author: If no author is given on the web page, start with the title of the work, followed by the rest of the website citation as usual.
  • Example:
    • “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, Johnson Publishing, 1 Jan. 2023, www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.
• 2. Multiple Authors: For three or more authors, list the first author’s name followed by “et al.”
  • Example:
    • Johnson, Amy B., et al. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, Johnson Publishing, 1 Jan. 2023, www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.
• 3. Organization as Author: If the author is an organization, list the organization’s name as the author.
  • Example:
    • American Baking Association. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, Johnson Publishing, 1 Jan. 2023, www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.
• 4. No Publishing Date: In MLA style, this is noted as “Accessed Day Month Year.” So if you accessed the information on June 25, 2023, it would be written as “Accessed 25 June 2023.”
  • Here’s how a citation would look with the accessed date:
    • Johnson, Amy B., and Charles D. Smith. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home. Accessed 25 June 2023.

Including the accessed date in your website citations isn’t always required, but it can be helpful. It provides readers with important context regarding the timeliness of your information.

Always refer to an MLA guide or publication manual for the most accurate and up-to-date rules for citing a website. This is just a general guide and may not cover all possible scenarios you may encounter.

When in doubt, you can always use our MLA Citation Generator to generate MLA references instantly.

Bonus: How to Cite a Website in Chicago Style

To cite a website in Chicago style, start with the author’s full name (first name first), followed by the page title in quotation marks, the website name, the publication year in parentheses, and the full URL. The standard bibliography format is: First Last. “Page Title.” Website Name. (Year). https://url. For footnotes or endnotes, the format differs slightly—place the author’s name in standard order and add an access date if the publication date is unavailable. Chicago style is commonly required in humanities essays; always confirm the format with your instructor. For help structuring a humanities essay from the ground up, see our guide on how to start an essay.

• 1. Author(s): Begin with the author’s full name, first name first. If there are multiple authors, only the first author’s name should be reversed. Use “and,” not an ampersand, for multi-author entries. If no author is listed, begin with the title.
  • Example: Amy B. Johnson and Charles D. Smith
• 2. Title: Include the title of the web page or article in quotation marks.
  • Example: “How to Bake Bread at Home”
• 3. Website Name or Publisher: If a known publisher exists and is different from the name of the site, include it after the title. If not, use the website name.
  • Example: Baking 101
• 4. Publication or Revision Date: If available, include the year of publication or latest revision in parentheses, followed by a comma.
  • Example: (2023),
• 5. URL or DOI: Finally, end with the full URL or DOI where the content can be found.
  • Example: https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home
  • DOI example: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aaq063

The final citation would look like this:

Johnson, Amy B., and Charles D. Smith. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, (2023), https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.

Exceptions

• 1. No Author: If there is no author, start the citation with the title.
  • Example:
    • “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, (2023), https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.
• 2. Multiple Authors: For more than two authors, list all authors as they appear on the website, but only reverse the first author’s name.
  • Example:
    • Amy B. Johnson, Charles D. Smith, and Elizabeth F. Lee. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, (2023), https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.
• 3. Organization as Author: If the author is an organization, include the organization’s name as the author.
  • Example:
    • American Baking Association. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, (2023), https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.
• 4. No Date: If there is no date available, include the access date in the citation.
  • Example:
    • Amy B. Johnson and Charles D. Smith. “How to Bake Bread at Home.” Baking 101, Accessed June 26, 2023, https://www.baking101.com/bake-bread-at-home.

Please note that the above examples are for the bibliography. Footnotes or endnotes in Chicago style may differ slightly, so always be sure to check with your instructor or refer to the Chicago Manual of Style.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a website with no author?

In APA, start with the article title, then use (n.d.) if no date is given. In MLA, begin with the article title in quotation marks and follow the standard format. In Chicago, start with the title of the page in quotation marks.

Do I need to include a retrieval date?

In APA style, include a retrieval date only for online sources likely to change over time, such as wiki pages. In MLA, use an “Accessed Day Month Year” note when no publication date is available.

How does citing sources prevent plagiarism?

Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit. Correct citation clearly identifies the original source, allows readers to search for and verify your information, and protects your academic integrity.

Can I cite blog posts the same way I cite other websites?

Yes—blog posts follow the same citation format as any other web page. Include the author, publication date, post title, blog name, and URL. If the blog is part of a larger online publication, treat it as you would any standard website citation.

Is there a free tool to generate citations automatically?

Yes—use our free Citation Generator to instantly create properly formatted references in APA, MLA, or Chicago style. For a deeper dive into using evidence in essays, see our body paragraph guide.

The list of references

1. Citation Guide: How to cite Websites — The Universities at Shady Grove
2. APA Quick Citation Guide — PennState University Libraries
3. Principles of Citing Sources — Yale Poorvu Center of Teaching and Learning