To cite a website with no author, you usually move the title of the page into the author position and then follow the normal format for your citation style. Here’s a quick, practical guide.

Basic idea (all styles)

When there’s no person or organization listed as author:

  • Start with the title of the webpage or article.
  • Then add the date (or “n.d.” if no date).
  • Add the website name (if required).
  • End with the URL.
  • In in-text citations, use a shortened version of the title instead of an author name.

APA (7th edition)

Reference list format (no author)

Title of webpage or article. (Year, Month Day). Website Name. URL

If there is no date , use “(n.d.)”.

Example

Climate change and coastal cities. (2023, May 10). Ocean Research Center. https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts

No date example:

Climate change and coastal cities. (n.d.). Ocean Research Center. https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts

In-text citation (no author)

  • Parenthetical: "Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"2023"Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"2023"Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"2023
  • Narrative: "Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"2023"Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"2023"Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"2023 notes that…

If there is no date: "Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"n.d."Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"n.d."Climatechangeandcoastalcities,"n.d.

MLA (9th edition)

Works Cited format (no author)

“Title of Webpage.” Website Name , Publisher (if different from site name), Day Month Year, URL.

If there is no date , MLA prefers an access date at the end.

Example

“Climate Change and Coastal Cities.” Ocean Research Center , 10 May 2023, https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts.

No date example:

“Climate Change and Coastal Cities.” Ocean Research Center , https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

In-text citation

Use a shortened title in quotes :

  • "ClimateChangeandCoastalCities""ClimateChangeandCoastalCities""ClimateChangeandCoastalCities"

Chicago style (notes and bibliography)

Bibliography entry (no author)

“Title of Article or Page.” Website Name. Month Day, Year. URL.

If there is no date, you can omit it or use an access date depending on your teacher/guide.

Example (bibliography)

“Climate Change and Coastal Cities.” Ocean Research Center. May 10, 2023. https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts.

No date example:

“Climate Change and Coastal Cities.” Ocean Research Center. Accessed February 22, 2026. https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts.

Footnote example

  1. “Climate Change and Coastal Cities,” Ocean Research Center , May 10, 2023, https://www.oceanresearch.org/climate-coasts.

What to do if author, date, or title are missing

  • No author : Move the title into the author position (as shown above).
  • No date :
    • APA: use (n.d.).
    • MLA and Chicago: often add an access date.
  • No clear title : Use a brief descriptive phrase in brackets , e.g., [Articleaboutcoastalflooding][Articleaboutcoastalflooding][Articleaboutcoastalflooding].

HTML table: Quick style cheat sheet

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Citation style</th>
      <th>Reference / entry format (no author)</th>
      <th>In-text / note</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>APA 7</td>
      <td>Title of webpage or article. (Year, Month Day). Website Name. URL</td>
      <td>("Shortened Title," Year)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>MLA 9</td>
      <td>"Title of Webpage." <i>Website Name</i>, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.</td>
      <td>("Shortened Title")</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Chicago</td>
      <td>"Title of Page." <i>Website Name</i>. Month Day, Year. URL.</td>
      <td>Footnote with "Title of Page," Website Name, date, URL</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Quick mini-steps you can follow

  1. Look for an author ; if none, skip to the title.
  2. Copy the title of the page exactly as shown.
  3. Find the date on the page; if not there, use the no-date rules for your style.
  4. Note the website name (often in the logo or footer).
  5. Copy the full URL.
  6. Plug those pieces into the correct format for APA, MLA, or Chicago.

TL;DR: Put the title in the author spot , keep the normal order for the rest of the citation for your style, and use a shortened title instead of an author in your in-text citation.