How to Cite a Website in an Essay: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to cite a website in an essay. We will explore the core components of a citation, delve into the specific formats for the most common citation styles—MLA, APA, and Chicago—and offer practical tips to help you cite with confidence and precision.

Why Citing Websites Correctly Matters

Before we get into the “how,” let’s briefly touch on the “why.” Citing sources is about more than just avoiding plagiarism. It’s a cornerstone of scholarly conversation. When you cite a website, you are essentially providing a roadmap for your reader, showing them the evidence you used to build your case. This transparency is vital for a number of reasons:

• It gives credit where credit is due. Acknowledging the original authors and creators of the content you use is an ethical imperative.
• It demonstrates your engagement with the topic. A well-cited essay shows that you have done your research, considered multiple perspectives, and are contributing to an existing academic dialogue.
• It allows for verification. Proper citations enable your professors and peers to locate your sources, check your interpretations, and build upon your research.
• It builds your credibility as a writer. Meticulous citation practices reflect attention to detail and a commitment to academic honesty, which enhances the authority of your work.

Given that a study by the Pew Research Center found that 87% of K-12 teachers believe the internet and other digital tools have had a “major positive impact” on their students’ research skills, mastering the art of website citation is more important than ever.

The Building Blocks of a Website Citation

Regardless of the specific citation style you’re using, you will generally need to find the same key pieces of information for any website you want to cite. Think of these as the essential building blocks. Before you start formatting, your first step should always be to gather the following details from the webpage:

1. Author or Editor

Identify the person or people responsible for writing the content on the page. The author’s name is often found at the top or bottom of the article or page, sometimes accompanied by a short bio.

• What if there’s no individual author? Look for a corporate or organizational author. For example, an article on the World Health Organization’s website might list the “World Health Organization” as the author. If you can’t identify any author, you will typically start the citation with the title of the page.

2. Title of the Page or Article

This is the specific title of the webpage you are citing. It’s usually the most prominent text at the top of the page, often in the largest font.

3. Title of the Website

This is the name of the overall website that hosts the page. It’s typically found in the header of the site or next to a logo. For example, the “Title of the Page” might be “The Health Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep,” while the “Title of the Website” is WebMD.

4. Publication Date

Look for the date when the content was published or last updated. This is often located near the title or at the very end of the page. Be as specific as possible, including the day, month, and year if available.

• What if there’s no date? If you cannot find a publication date, you will use the abbreviation “n.d.” (for “no date”) in its place in most citation styles.

5. URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

This is the web address for the page. Simply copy the full URL from your browser’s address bar. It’s best to use the stable URL or “permalink” if one is provided, as these are less likely to change over time.

6. DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

For scholarly articles found online, you may see a DOI. A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string that provides a persistent link to the content. If a DOI is available, you should always use it in your citation instead of a URL, as it is a more stable and permanent identifier.

A well-structured website, often built with intuitive tools like Elementor, can make finding this information much easier. Clear headings, visible author attributions, and explicitly stated publication dates on pages created with such platforms simplify the citation process for researchers.

How to Cite a Website: The Main Styles

Now that you know what information to look for, let’s explore how to format it according to the three most common citation styles used in academia: MLA, APA, and Chicago.

MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

MLA style is most often used in the humanities, such as literature, arts, and philosophy. The 9th edition is the most current version.

MLA Works Cited Entry for a Website

The general format for a webpage on a website is as follows:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Page.” Title of the Website, Publication Date, URL.

Example:

Garcia, Sandra E. “How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer.” The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2020, https://www.google.com/search?q=www.nytimes.com/article/make-hand-sanitizer.html.

Variations in MLA Website Citations

Page on a Website with an Organization as Author:

World Health Organization. “Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public.” World Health Organization, 2 Apr. 2021, www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public.

Page on a Website with No Author:

When no author is listed, begin the citation with the title of the page.

“The Science of Earthquakes.” U.S. Geological Survey, 22 Jan. 2019, www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes.

Page on a Website with No Publication Date:

Use “n.d.” if no date is available, but it’s often better to find a source that does include a date to ensure its timeliness and credibility.

“How to Build a Website.” Elementor, n.d., https://www.google.com/search?q=elementor.com/blog/how-to-build-a-website/.

An Entire Website:

If you need to cite an entire website (and not a specific page), you would typically include the author or organization, the title of the website, the publication date (if applicable), and the URL.

Elementor. The Elementor Team, 2023, elementor.com.

MLA In-Text Citations for Websites

For in-text citations, you generally include the author’s last name in parentheses. If there is no author, use a shortened version of the page title.

• (Garcia)
• (World Health Organization)
• (“The Science of Earthquakes”)

Source Type	MLA Works Cited Format	Example
Page on a Website	Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Page.” Title of the Website, Publication Date, URL.	Garcia, Sandra E. “How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer.” The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2020, https://www.google.com/search?q=www.nytimes.com/article/make-hand-sanitizer.html.
No Author	“Title of the Page.” Title of the Website, Publication Date, URL.	“The Science of Earthquakes.” U.S. Geological Survey, 22 Jan. 2019, www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes.
No Date	Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Page.” Title of the Website, n.d., URL.	“How to Build a Website.” Elementor, n.d., https://www.google.com/search?q=elementor.com/blog/how-to-build-a-website/.

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

APA style is commonly used in the social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and education. The 7th edition is the most current version.

APA Reference List Entry for a Website

The general format for a webpage on a website is:

Author’s Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. Title of the Website. URL

Example:

Garcia, S. E. (2020, March 12). How to make your own hand sanitizer. The New York Times. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.nytimes.com/article/make-hand-sanitizer.html

Variations in APA Website Citations

Page on a Website with an Organization as Author:

World Health Organization. (2021, April 2). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Page on a Website with No Author:

When no author is listed, start with the title of the page.

The science of earthquakes. (2019, January 22). U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes

Page on a Website with No Publication Date:

Use “n.d.” in place of the date.

Elementor. (n.d.). How to build a website. Retrieved September 4, 2025, from https://www.google.com/search?q=https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-build-a-website/

Note: For pages that are designed to change over time (like a wiki or a homepage), APA recommends including a retrieval date. For static pages, it is not required.

APA In-Text Citations for Websites

For in-text citations in APA, include the author’s last name and the year of publication. For a direct quote, include a page number if available; if not, you can use a paragraph number.

• (Garcia, 2020)
• (World Health Organization, 2021)
• (The Science of Earthquakes, 2019)

Source Type	APA Reference List Format	Example
Page on a Website	Author’s Last Name, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. Title of the Website. URL	Garcia, S. E. (2020, March 12). How to make your own hand sanitizer. The New York Times. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.nytimes.com/article/make-hand-sanitizer.html
Organization Author	Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. URL	World Health Organization. (2021, April 2). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
No Author	Title of the page. (Year, Month Day). Title of the Website. URL	The science of earthquakes. (2019, January 22). U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)

Chicago style is versatile and used across many academic disciplines, especially in the humanities and social sciences. It offers two systems: Notes and Bibliography, and Author-Date. We’ll focus on Notes and Bibliography, which is more common for humanities.

Chicago Bibliography Entry for a Website

The general format for a webpage in a bibliography is:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Page.” Title of Website. Last modified or published Month Day, Year. URL.

Example:

Garcia, Sandra E. “How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer.” The New York Times. March 12, 2020. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.nytimes.com/article/make-hand-sanitizer.html.

Chicago Footnote or Endnote

The first time you cite a source in a footnote, you provide the full citation. Subsequent citations can be shortened.

Full Note:

1. Sandra E. Garcia, “How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer,” The New York Times, March 12, 2020, https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.nytimes.com/article/make-hand-sanitizer.html.

Shortened Note:

2. Garcia, “Hand Sanitizer.”

Variations in Chicago Website Citations

Page with an Organization as Author:

Bibliography:

World Health Organization. “Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public.” World Health Organization. April 2, 2021. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public.

Full Note:

3. World Health Organization, “Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public,” World Health Organization, April 2, 2021, https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public.

Page with No Author:

Bibliography:

“The Science of Earthquakes.” U.S. Geological Survey. January 22, 2019. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes.

Full Note:

4. “The Science of Earthquakes,” U.S. Geological Survey, January 22, 2019, https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science-earthquakes.

Page with No Date:

If no date is available, include an access date.

Bibliography:

Elementor. “How to Build a Website.” Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.google.com/search?q=https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-build-a-website/.

Full Note:

5. “How to Build a Website,” Elementor, accessed September 4, 2025, https://www.google.com/search?q=https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-build-a-website/.

Tools for Citing Websites

Manually formatting citations can be time-consuming, especially for a research-intensive essay. Fortunately, several tools can help streamline the process.

• Zotero: A free, open-source reference management tool that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share research. It can automatically capture citation information from your browser.
• Mendeley: Another popular free reference manager that also includes features for collaborating with other researchers.
• EasyBib: An online tool that offers both free and paid versions to help you generate citations in various styles.

While these tools are incredibly helpful, they are not foolproof. Always double-check the generated citations against the official style guide to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Best Practices for Citing Websites

To elevate your academic work and ensure your citations are as accurate as possible, keep these best practices in mind:

1. Evaluate Your Sources: The credibility of your essay depends on the credibility of your sources. Before you cite a website, assess its authority, accuracy, and bias. Look for reputable authors and organizations, check for supporting evidence, and be wary of overly biased or commercial content.
2. Be Consistent: Whichever citation style you use, apply it consistently throughout your entire essay.
3. Gather Information as You Research: Don’t wait until you’ve finished writing to track down citation details. Create a working bibliography or use a tool like Zotero to save your sources and their information as you go.
4. Prioritize DOIs over URLs: For scholarly articles, a DOI is the gold standard. It’s a permanent link that won’t break if the website’s structure changes.
5. Don’t Forget In-Text Citations: Your Works Cited or Bibliography page is only half the battle. You must also include in-text citations or footnotes every time you quote, paraphrase, or summarize information from a source.

Conclusion

Citing a website in an essay is a skill that blends attention to detail with an understanding of academic conventions. By familiarizing yourself with the core components of a citation and the specific rules of your required style guide, you can integrate online sources into your work with confidence and integrity. Remember that proper citation is not just a technical requirement; it is a fundamental aspect of responsible scholarship that honors the work of others and enhances the credibility of your own voice.