Referencing online material in APA
This page outlines the correct format for online sources in an APA reference list:
- Web page
- Book or journal, magazine, or newspaper article online
- Encyclopædia entry online
- Online forum /discussion board message or blog
- Video online
Many online sources are missing important referencing information, such as the author or year of publication. See referencing elements for information on what to do in these circumstances.
New to referencing? See the introduction to referencing.
Create customised interactive examples of APA references and in-text citations with this online tool.
This video lecture explains the ins and outs of referencing sources which have been downloaded from the Internet or a database.
Web page
Order: Author(s). Year of publication (in brackets). Page title (in italics). URL
Benson, A., & Kipp, R. M. (2012, November 23). Potamopyrgus antipodarum. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?SpeciesID=1008
The earlier (6th) edition of APA formats this differently. See 6th vs. 7th for details.
- Provide the most specific date available. If a last updated date is available for the specific page being cited, then use this in the reference list. In an in-text citation, however, only give the year. Note: a last reviewed date implies the web page content has not been changed or updated so use the original date given.
- Give the full URL address as it appears in your browser's address bar.
- Do not place a full stop at the end of the URL as this may affect the functionality of the link.
- Web pages do not always have the same quality controls as printed material. Many websites are not appropriate for an academic assignment. See evaluating source quality for details.
- Only give a retrieval date for content that is likely to change frequently (e.g. a dictionary or encyclopaedia entry, a Facebook page, a Google map). Most web pages do not require a retrieval date.
- Most websites do not have page numbers so this detail is omitted.
Many online sources do not identify an individual author. See no author for details:
Ministry for Primary Industries. (2012, November 23). Rural communities. http://www.mpi.govt.nz/agriculture/rural-communities
Some websites may also be missing a year of publication or page numbers.
Book or journal, magazine, or newspaper article online
Include a DOI for all works that have one, even if you used the print version. If a print work does not have a DOI, however, then do not include a URL in the reference.
Encyclopædia entry online
Online encyclopædias should be treated like printed encyclopædias, with the addition of the date of retrieval and URL address at the end of the reference. If there is no author, the entry title is moved to the author position. See no author for details.
Order: Author. Year of publication (in brackets). Entry title. Site name (in italics). Date of retrieval, URL
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Non sequitur. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 7, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non%20sequitur
- Web pages do not always have the same quality controls as printed material. Many websites are not appropriate for an academic assignment. See evaluating source quality for details.
- Note that a date of retrieval should be included if you have reason to believe that the link may change over time (e.g., for dictionary or encyclopaedia entries). Note: some sources (e.g. Wikipedia articles, Cochrane reviews) are archived which means the link is stable and a retrieval date is not necessary.
- Do not place a full stop at the end of the URL or DOI as this may affect the functionality of the link.
The earlier (6th) edition of APA formats this differently. See 6th vs. 7th for details.
Online forum / discussion board message or blog
Order: Author or username [user handle in square brackets]. Date of post (in brackets). Title / subject line/Tweet (up to the first 20 words, in italics) description of links, pictures, emoji’s [optional; in square brackets]. Description of social media [in square brackets]. Social media platform. Retrieval date (optional), URL address
APA Style [@APA_Style]. (2020, January 8). We've heard some questions about when to switch from 6th to 7th edition #APAStyle. We anticipate that most students and [Thumbnail with link to additional details] [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/APA_Style/status/1214595063587770368
Massey University. (n.d.). About [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved January 8, 2020, https://www.facebook.com/pg/masseyuniversity/about/?ref=page_internal
Massey University. (2020, January 3). Check out Vaka Documentary: A doco made by our CoCA Massey Creative Media Production students about the Pacific nation of [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/masseyuniversity/posts/check-out-vaka-documentary-a-doco-made-by-our-coca-massey-creative-media-product/10157321122012851/
The earlier (6th) edition of APA formats this differently. See 6th vs. 7th for details.
Video online
Online video (e.g., YouTube) is referenced according to the guidelines for audiovisual material, with the URL address.
Personal e-mail is not published, nor is it generally available to the public. It should therefore be treated as a personal communication and is only included as an in-text citation. See personal communications for details.
References and further reading
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). [Massey Library link]
Disclaimer
These pages are provided as a guide to proper referencing. Your course, department, school, or institute may prescribe specific conventions, and their recommendations supersede these instructions. If you have questions not covered here, check in the style guide listed above, ask your course coordinator, or ask at Academic Q+A.