How to Cite a Website in APA 7th Edition

This guide explains how to format a website citation in APA 7th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a website in APA 7th Edition:

Template

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). *Title of page*. Site Name. https://www.example.com/page

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(World Health Organization, 2023)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

World Health Organization. (2023, June 15). Mental health in the workplace. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
The author can be an individual or an organization. If no author is listed, use the organization name. If neither is available, begin the reference with the page title.
2
Add the date
Provide the full date (Year, Month Day) if available. If only a year is available, use just the year. If no date is available, use "(n.d.)" for "no date."
3
Write the page title
Italicize the title of the web page. Use sentence case.
4
Add the website name
Write the name of the website in plain text (not italicized). Omit the site name if it is the same as the author.
5
Include the URL
Provide the full URL. Do not place a period after the URL.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the website name when it is different from the author.
Including the website name when the author and website name are the same (omit the site name to avoid repetition).
Not providing a retrieval date for pages that are likely to change (use "Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL").
Including "Retrieved from" for content with a stable publication date (retrieval dates are only for content that may change).
Not italicizing the title of the web page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need a retrieval date for a website citation in APA?

Include a retrieval date only when the content is designed to change over time and is not archived (e.g., a Wikipedia article, a social media profile, or a page with no publication date). Use the format: "Retrieved March 28, 2026, from https://..."

What if there is no author for a web page?

If no individual or organizational author is credited, begin the reference with the title of the page (in italics), followed by the date, site name, and URL.

Do I italicize the website name?

No. The website name is written in plain text. The page title is the element that is italicized.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your website:

Author(s) or Organization
Date of publication or last update
Title of page or article
Website name
URL
Date accessed (if no publication date)

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

The author can be an individual or an organization. If no author is listed, use the organization name. If neither is available, begin the reference with the page title.

Add the date

Provide the full date (Year, Month Day) if available. If only a year is available, use just the year. If no date is available, use "(n.d.)" for "no date."

Write the page title

Italicize the title of the web page. Use sentence case.

Add the website name

Write the name of the website in plain text (not italicized). Omit the site name if it is the same as the author.

Include the URL

Provide the full URL. Do not place a period after the URL.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the website name when it is different from the author.

Including the website name when the author and website name are the same (omit the site name to avoid repetition).

Not providing a retrieval date for pages that are likely to change (use "Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL").

Including "Retrieved from" for content with a stable publication date (retrieval dates are only for content that may change).

Not italicizing the title of the web page.