Need to cite a website in your paper? This guide shows you how to format Works Cited entries for websites in MLA 9th edition — the current standard — with examples for each common case.
What MLA Format Is
MLA stands for Modern Language Association. It’s the citation style used in most humanities, language, and literature courses in the U.S.
The current edition is the MLA Handbook, 9th edition, released in April 2021. It replaced the 8th edition. If your assignment specifies “MLA,” use the 9th edition unless told otherwise.
Core Elements for a Website Citation
MLA 9 uses a template of nine core elements. For a website, you usually need:
- Author (last name, first name)
- Title of source (the page or article title, in quotation marks)
- Title of container (the website name, in italics)
- Publication date
- Location (the URL, without “https://”)
Add an Accessed date at the end if no publication date is shown.
How to Cite a Website in MLA
1. A Single Webpage or Article
Use this format for blog posts, online articles, news stories, and most web pages.
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
Asadu, Chinedu. “Lawmakers in Nigeria try to resolve rift between authorities and Africa’s richest man.” AP News, 23 July 2024, apnews.com/article/dangote-refinery-cd3d4ef8eff4c762fb1088cf16b80072.
In-text citation: (Asadu)
2. An Entire Website
Use this format when you cite a whole site, not a specific page (rare in research papers).
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. Website Name. Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Example:
Harison, Jade. Chidant. 2024, chidant.edu/english. Accessed 22 July 2024.
If no author is listed for the whole site:
Chidant. 2024, chidant.edu/english. Accessed 22 July 2024.
3. A Webpage With No Author
Begin with the page title. If the publishing organization differs from the website name, list it as the author.
Format (organization as author):
Organization Name. “Title of Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Format (no author at all):
“Title of Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
“Challenges of refinery construction in Nigeria.” AP News, apnews.com/article/refinery-construction. Accessed 20 July 2024.
In-text citation: Use a shortened title — (“Challenges”).
4. A Webpage With No Date
If no publication date is shown, omit it and add an Accessed date at the end of the entry.
Example:
Smith, Anna. “How to Plant Cassava.” Farm Africa, farmafrica.org/cassava-guide. Accessed 12 March 2026.
5. An Online News or Magazine Article
Same as a regular webpage — the website (newspaper or magazine) goes in the container slot.
Example:
Adeoye, Aanu. “Nigeria’s economy is set for fastest growth in a decade.” Financial Times, 5 May 2025, ft.com/content/nigeria-growth-2025.
In-Text Citation Rules
- Use the author’s last name in parentheses: (Asadu)
- If no author, use a shortened version of the title: (“Challenges”)
- Skip page numbers for web sources unless the page itself uses numbered paragraphs
- Don’t include the URL in the in-text citation — only in the Works Cited list
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting the Container
The website name goes in italics as the container. A page without it looks like a quote with no source.
Pasting Long URLs With “https://”
MLA 9 lets you drop the “https://” prefix. Your URL should start at the domain — e.g., apnews.com/article/… rather than https://apnews.com/….
Missing the Date Format
MLA uses Day Month Year (no commas): 23 July 2024, not “July 23, 2024” or “07/23/2024.”
Skipping the Accessed Date When Needed
Add “Accessed [date].” whenever the page has no clear publication date or the content may change.
Free Online Citation Generators
These tools let you paste a URL and get a formatted citation. Always double-check the output — generators sometimes miss the publication date or get the author wrong.
ZoteroBib
ZoteroBib is the most accurate free tool. No account required. Built by the team behind Zotero. Supports MLA, APA, Chicago, and 9,000+ other styles.
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BibMe
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FAQ
Which MLA edition should I use?
The 9th edition (April 2021). The 8th edition is outdated. The MLA does not publish a “10th” — the next major update has not been announced as of 2026.
Do I include “https://” in my Works Cited URL?
No. MLA 9 lets you drop the protocol. Start the URL at the domain.
What if the website has multiple authors?
List two authors as: Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. For three or more, list the first author followed by “et al.”: Smith, Anna, et al.
Can I cite a social media post?
Yes. Treat the username as the author and the post text (or a description) as the title in quotation marks. The platform name is the container.
Example: @username. “Post text here.” X (formerly Twitter), 5 May 2025, x.com/username/status/1234567890.
How do I cite a YouTube video?
Use the channel/uploader as author, the video title in quotes, YouTube as container, the upload date, and the URL.
Example: TED. “How to Learn Anything Faster.” YouTube, 12 Jan. 2024, youtube.com/watch?v=abc123.
Also see: Best Nigerian Authors of All Time