Citing Websites (Harvard Style)

Need to cite a website in Harvard style? Whether you're referencing a blog post, web article, or an entire site, this guide breaks it down clearly. You'll find in-text citation rules, full reference formats, and real examples tailored for students and educators.

Introduction: What Counts as a Website in Harvard Referencing?

From breaking news and blog posts to government reports and educational content, websites are some of the most common sources cited in student assignments. But citing them correctly in Harvard style can be tricky — especially when details like the author or date are missing.

In Harvard referencing, a "website" can refer to a wide range of online materials. These include:

  • Individual web pages or entire websites
  • Online news articles or magazine features
  • Blogs, vlogs, and personal or professional content platforms
  • Wikis and collaborative user-generated content (e.g. Wikipedia)
  • PDFs, reports, or documents published on the web
  • Official pages from government bodies, universities, or organisations

This guide will help you cite all of the above accurately using Harvard style, with clear examples and practical tips tailored for students, educators, and academic writers.

Reference List Examples (Harvard Website Citations)

Below are example citations for common website types using the Harvard style. Each follows the standard format: author (or organisation), year (or "no date"), title (italicised), URL, and access date.

Author Available

Example:
Smith, J. (2023) Understanding AI . Available at: https://example.com (Accessed: 5 May 2025).

Organisation as Author

Example:
NHS (2024) Health advice on sleep . Available at: https://nhs.uk/sleep (Accessed: 10 April 2025).

No Author

Example:
Latest trends in tech (2022). Available at: https://techblog.com (Accessed: 3 March 2025).

No Date

Example:
BBC (no date) Archive of science news . Available at: https://bbc.com/oldscience (Accessed: 8 January 2025).

As you cite different types of web content, follow these structures and adapt based on what's available. The Harvard style is flexible — just be consistent and transparent with the information you use.

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Harvard In-Text Citation Rules for Websites

In-text citations show your reader where the information came from — right in the body of your writing. For websites in Harvard style, they"re concise and usually include the author or organisation and the year of publication.

Basic Format

Most website citations include the surname of the author (or organisation) and the year of publication.

Format: (Author, Year)

Example: (Smith, 2023)

Organisation: (NHS, 2024)

No Author or No Date

If there"s no author, use the title or website name. If there"s no date, include "no date".

No author: ( Latest trends in tech , 2022)

No date: (BBC, no date)

Quoting Website Text

If you're quoting from a web page with no page numbers, give a paragraph or section heading if available — or just cite as usual if that"s not possible.

Example: "Sleep is essential..." (NHS, 2024)

Alternative: NHS (2024) states that "..."

Citing Multiple Website Sources

If you cite more than one website at once, separate them with semicolons inside the same brackets.

Example: (Smith, 2023; NHS, 2024)

Every in-text citation must match a full reference in your bibliography or 'References' list. The goal is to provide just enough detail for your reader to find the complete entry in your reference list.

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FAQs About Citing Websites in Harvard Style

Here are some of the most common questions students ask when referencing websites using Harvard style.

Yes — Harvard style requires full URLs for all online sources unless a DOI is used instead.

Use “no date” in both the in-text citation and the reference list entry — for example, (BBC, no date).

Treat the PDF as a webpage. Mention that it"s a PDF if relevant, and include the full URL and access date.

Yes — Harvard style recommends adding the date you accessed the webpage, especially if the content may change over time.

Tips for Reliable Website Referencing

Not all websites are created equal. Use these tips to make sure you're citing credible, stable, and appropriate sources in your Harvard reference list.

Check Author Credibility

Prefer websites written by identifiable authors or reputable organisations. Academic, government, or educational domains (like .ac.*, .edu or .gov) are generally more reliable.

Use Stable, Published Pages

Avoid citing pages that may be edited frequently, such as homepages or dashboards. Use specific URLs that lead directly to the content.

Include Access Dates

Since websites can change or be removed, include the date you accessed the content to show when it was valid.

Archive or Save Key Sources

For important or hard-to-replace pages, consider saving a PDF or linking to a web archive (like the Wayback Machine) for future verification.

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Try Our Free Website Citation Generator

Not sure if your citation is correct? Save time and take the stress out of referencing with our free Harvard website citation generator — built to help you learn while you cite.

Cite a Website Now

No sign-up needed. Works for blog posts, news articles, PDFs, organisation pages, and more.

Further Help and Resources

Want to go beyond website citations? Explore these additional Harvard-style guides and examples:

Full Harvard Referencing Guide

Learn the core rules and formatting principles behind Harvard referencing, with examples for all major source types.

Learn How to Reference

How to Cite Books

Includes examples for print books, ebooks, edited collections, reprints, and more — all in Harvard style.

Referencing a Book Guide

More Harvard Citation Examples

Browse examples for a variety of sources, including images, presentations, social media posts, and more.

Explore Citation Examples