How to Cite a Software or App in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography)

This guide explains how to format a software or app citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography). 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 software or app in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography):

Template

Note: Author/Organization, Title of Software, version number (Place: Publisher, Year), URL. Bibliography: Author/Organization. Title of Software. Version number. Place: Publisher, Year. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

1. Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Excel, version 16.80 (Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2024).

Bibliography Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your bibliography:

Bibliography entry

Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Excel. Version 16.80. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2024. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/excel.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author or developer
Use the individual author(s) or the organization that developed the software.
2
Italicize the software title
Italicize the software name and use headline-style capitalization.
3
Include the version number
Write "version" followed by the version number. If no version is available, include the date of the release you used.
4
Add publication details
Include the place of publication and publisher. In notes, enclose in parentheses. In the bibliography, follow a period.
5
Include the URL
Provide the URL for the software's official page or repository.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicizing the software title.
Omitting the version number — version specificity is important for reproducibility.
Forgetting to include the publisher or developer.
Listing a download URL that may change instead of the software's main page.
Treating software the same as a website — software has specific version and publisher information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite open-source software with no single author?

Use the project or organization name as the author (e.g., 'The R Foundation'). If the software is community-developed, use the software name as the author.

Do I need to cite standard software like Microsoft Word?

Generally, well-known software can be mentioned in the text without a formal citation. However, if the specific version is relevant to your research (e.g., statistical software), a full citation is appropriate.

How do I cite a mobile app in Chicago style?

Cite it as software, noting the app version and the platform: Developer, App Name, version X.Y (Publisher, Year), platform. Include the app store URL if needed.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your software or app:

Author/Developer
Title
Version
Year
Publisher
URL

Generate citations automatically with CiteDash

Stop formatting citations by hand. CiteDash automatically generates accurate Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography) citations for all your sources while you research and write.

Start Free Trial More Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography) Guides

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author or developer

Use the individual author(s) or the organization that developed the software.

Italicize the software title

Italicize the software name and use headline-style capitalization.

Include the version number

Write "version" followed by the version number. If no version is available, include the date of the release you used.

Add publication details

Include the place of publication and publisher. In notes, enclose in parentheses. In the bibliography, follow a period.

Include the URL

Provide the URL for the software's official page or repository.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicizing the software title.

Omitting the version number — version specificity is important for reproducibility.

Forgetting to include the publisher or developer.

Listing a download URL that may change instead of the software's main page.

Treating software the same as a website — software has specific version and publisher information.