Accurate citation is the bedrock of academic integrity, yet the transition to digital-first sourcing has made referencing more complex than ever. The Modern Language Association (MLA) updated its standards to the 9th Edition to simplify this process, focusing on a universal set of "core elements" rather than a rigid list of rules for every possible source type. To cite a website in MLA 9, use the following standard sequence:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Webpage." Title of the Website, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.

If any piece of information is missing, you simply skip that element and move to the next. This flexible approach allows you to cite everything from a traditional news article to a obscure blog post using the same logical framework.

The Nine Core Elements of an MLA Citation

The power of MLA 9 lies in its "containers" concept. A webpage is a source, and the website it lives on is the container. Sometimes, that website might be part of a larger container (like a database). Here is a detailed breakdown of how to handle each element for a web-based source.

1. Author

Start with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the first name. If the website is created by an organization or a corporate author, use the name of that organization.

  • Single Author: Smith, Jane.
  • Two Authors: Smith, Jane, and John Doe.
  • Three or More Authors: Smith, Jane, et al.
  • Corporate Author: World Health Organization.

In my experience editing academic journals, the most frequent error occurs when writers confuse the editor of a site with the author of an article. Only list the person who actually wrote the content in the first slot.

2. Title of Source

For websites, the "source" is the specific page or article you are reading. This title should be placed in quotation marks and use title-case capitalization.

  • Example: "The Economic Impact of Renewable Energy."

3. Title of Container

The "container" is the larger work in which the source is found—in this case, the website itself. This title is always italicized and followed by a comma.

  • Example: The New York Times, or ScienceDaily.

4. Other Contributors

If someone other than the author is important to the source—such as a translator or a guest editor—include them here. Use descriptions like "translated by" or "edited by."

5. Version

This is rarely used for standard websites but is crucial for e-books or specific editions of online reports. If you see "2nd ed." or "Version 1.2," place it here.

6. Number

Used primarily for journals or series found online. If you are citing a peer-reviewed article hosted on a website, include the volume and issue number (e.g., vol. 12, no. 4).

7. Publisher

The publisher is the entity responsible for making the website available. However, MLA 9 provides a specific exception: if the name of the publisher is essentially the same as the name of the website, you omit the publisher entirely to avoid redundancy.

8. Publication Date

Use the most specific date available on the page. MLA style uses the Day Month Year format. Abbreviate months longer than four letters (e.g., Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.).

  • Example: 14 Oct. 2023.

9. Location (URL or DOI)

This is where the reader can find the source. For websites, this is the URL. A critical rule in MLA 9: omit the "https://" or "http://" protocol. Start the URL with "www." or the domain name.

If a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is available (common in academic papers), always use that instead of a URL, as it is a permanent link.

How to Cite a Website with No Author in MLA

One of the most common challenges in web citation is the "missing author" scenario. Many high-quality informational sites, such as government agencies or encyclopedias, do not credit a single individual.

When no author is listed, do not use "Anonymous." Instead, start the citation with the Title of the Webpage in quotation marks.

Example: "Global Warming Frequently Asked Questions." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 12 June 2022, www.climate.gov/faq.

When you cite this in the text of your paper, you will use a shortened version of the title: ("Global Warming").

Referencing Government and Organizational Websites

Government documents provide a wealth of data, but their citations can look intimidating. The key is to identify the "Corporate Author." If the author is a government agency, you can list the agency as the author. However, if the agency is also the publisher, MLA recommends starting with the title and listing the agency as the publisher later.

Example (Government Report): Annual Energy Outlook 2023. U.S. Energy Information Administration, 16 Mar. 2023, www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/.

In this case, because the U.S. Energy Information Administration is both the creator and the publisher, starting with the title makes the citation cleaner and more direct.

Citing Social Media and Modern Web Formats

MLA 9 is designed to handle the evolution of the web. Citing a post from X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or a YouTube video follows the same container logic.

Citing a YouTube Video

The author is the creator of the video (often a username or a channel name). The title of the video is the "Source Title," and YouTube is the "Container."

Template: Creator/Author. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by [Username], Date, URL.

Example: CrashCourse. "The Industrial Revolution: Crash Course European History #24." YouTube, 14 Nov. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjK7PWmRRyg.

Citing a Social Media Post

If the user has a real name and a handle, start with the real name and put the handle in brackets. If only a handle is available, start with that.

Example: @nasa. "Stunning new views of Jupiter's moon, Io." Instagram, 30 Dec. 2023, www.instagram.com/p/C1eR8xJuH_y/.

Mastering MLA In-Text Citations for Websites

The purpose of an in-text citation (also known as a parenthetical citation) is to point the reader directly to the corresponding entry in the Works Cited list.

The Basic Rule

If your citation starts with an author’s name, the in-text citation should be the author's last name. Unlike APA, MLA does not require the year of publication in the parentheses.

  • In-text: (Smith)

Websites Without Page Numbers

Since most websites do not have page numbers, you do not need to provide one. Do not use paragraph numbers unless the website explicitly numbers them (e.g., par. 5). If there are no page or paragraph numbers, just provide the author's name.

When There is No Author

If the Works Cited entry starts with the title of the webpage, use the title (or a shortened version of it) in your in-text citation.

  • Full Title: "Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health"
  • In-text: ("Impact of Social Media")

Formatting the Works Cited Page

Even if your citations are perfectly written, they must be formatted correctly on the page to meet MLA standards.

  1. Hanging Indents: This is the most critical visual element. The first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and every subsequent line is indented 0.5 inches. In Google Docs or Microsoft Word, this is usually found under "Paragraph Settings" or "Indentation."
  2. Alphabetical Order: Arrange your Works Cited list alphabetically by the first word of the entry (usually the author's last name or the title of the article).
  3. Double Spacing: The entire page, including between entries, should be double-spaced.
  4. URLs and Line Breaks: If a URL needs to be broken across two lines, try to break it before a slash or a period. Do not add a hyphen to a URL where one doesn't exist.

The Role of the "Accessed" Date

In earlier editions of MLA, the date you accessed a website was mandatory. In MLA 9, it is considered optional. However, I highly recommend including it in two specific scenarios:

  1. When there is no publication date: If the webpage doesn't tell you when it was written, the "Accessed" date provides a timestamp for the version of the info you saw.
  2. For dynamic content: Sites like Wikipedia or live dashboards change constantly. Adding an access date helps researchers find the version you used.

The access date goes at the very end of the citation:

  • Example: Accessed 5 Jan. 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to include the "https://" in the URL?

No. MLA 9 explicitly states that you should omit the protocol (http:// or https://) from the URL to keep the citation clean. Start with "www." or the domain name.

What if the website has no title?

If a webpage has no title, provide a brief description of the source without quotation marks or italics.

Should I cite the entire website or a specific page?

In almost all academic writing, you should cite the specific page where the information is located. Citing an entire website is only appropriate if you are discussing the site as a whole (e.g., analyzing the user interface of Wikipedia).

How do I cite a blog post?

Citing a blog post is identical to citing a news article. The blog name is the container.

Is a DOI better than a URL?

Yes. A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a stable link that will never change, even if the website is restructured. If a DOI is available, always use it. Format it as: https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx. (Note: In MLA 9, keep the https:// for DOIs but not for URLs).

Summary of MLA 9 Website Citation Rules

Citing a website in MLA 9 involves identifying the core elements available and arranging them in the standard sequence. Remember that the "container" (the website) is italicized, while the "source" (the article or page) is in quotation marks. If an author is unavailable, lead with the title. Always ensure your Works Cited page uses hanging indents and is alphabetized. By following the "container" logic rather than memorizing specific rules for every site, you can handle any digital source with confidence.