Websites & Webpages (Harvard Style)

The most important elements for citing web sources are the author (which can be a person or an organisation), the date the information was published or last updated, the title of the page, the URL, and the date you accessed it.

1. Webpage with an Individual Author

This is used for articles or pages on a website where a specific person is credited as the author.

Reference List Format:
Surname, Initial(s). (Year of publication or last update) Title of webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Reference List Example:
Dalal, T. (2024) A guide to regional Indian breads. Available at: https://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-indian-breads-18 (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
In-Text Citation Examples:
  • Parenthetical: There is a vast diversity of breads beyond naan and roti (Dalal 2024).
  • Narrative: Dalal (2024) explains that there is a vast diversity of breads beyond naan and roti.

2. Webpage with a Corporate or Organisational Author

This is very common for government, company, or news websites where the organisation is the author.

Reference List Format:
Name of Organisation (Year of publication or last update) Title of webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Reference List Example:
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (2025) National guidelines for infant and young child feeding. Available at: https://main.mohfw.gov.in/newshighlights-90 (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
In-Text Citation Examples:
  • Parenthetical: The guidelines provide specific recommendations for the first 24 months (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 2025).
  • Narrative: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (2025) provides specific recommendations for the first 24 months.

3. Webpage with No Author

If no individual or corporate author can be identified, the title of the webpage moves to the author position.

Reference List Format:
Title of webpage (Year of publication or last update) Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Reference List Example:
Indian classical music: an introduction (2023) Available at: https://www.introductions-to-music.com/indian-classical (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
In-Text Citation Examples:
  • Parenthetical: The system of ragas is fundamental to the structure of the music (Indian classical music: an introduction 2023).
  • Narrative: As explained in Indian classical music: an introduction (2023), the system of ragas is fundamental...

4. Webpage with No Date

If a webpage does not have a clear publication or "last updated" date, use the abbreviation (n.d.) which stands for 'no date'.

Reference List Format:
Author/Organisation (n.d.) Title of webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Reference List Example:
National Disaster Management Authority (n.d.) Cyclone preparedness guide. Available at: https://ndma.gov.in/cyclone-preparedness (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
In-Text Citation Examples:
  • Parenthetical: It is crucial to have an emergency kit ready (National Disaster Management Authority, n.d.).
  • Narrative: The National Disaster Management Authority (n.d.) states that it is crucial to have an emergency kit ready.

5. Blog Post

Blog posts are cited similarly to webpages, but the title of the individual post is put in single quotation marks and the name of the blog itself is italicised.

Reference List Format:
Surname, Initial(s). (Year) 'Title of blog post', Title of Blog, Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Reference List Example:
Shenoy, G. (2025) 'A traveller's guide to the Western Ghats', The India Wanderer, 28 May. Available at: https://www.theindiawanderer.com/western-ghats-guide (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
In-Text Citation Examples:
  • Parenthetical: The monsoon season is the best time to visit for lush landscapes (Shenoy 2025).
  • Narrative: Shenoy (2025) suggests the monsoon season is the best time to visit.

How to Cite in Harvard Style: