Cite a web source you can revisit
Record the author, page title, URL, relevant passage and consultation date so another reader can check your source.
Follow the method ↓
The answer in 30 seconds
A bare link can break or lead to a changed page. A useful citation explains what you consulted and which part of it supports the statement you are making.
Capture enough context to relocate and assess a source: publisher or author, title, URL, publication date when shown, consultation date and the exact claim it supports.
Examples to adapt
Include the report title, edition, table or page and producer rather than linking only to a search result.
Record the consultation date and the feature described, since interface instructions can change.
Follow the method
- 1Identify the publisher
Look for the named author or organisation and the page's actual title.
- 2Record the claim
Note the relevant section, figure or passage in your own words, with a page or heading when useful.
- 3Keep dates separate
Distinguish publication or update date from the day you consulted the page.
- 4Test retrieval
Open the saved URL later and preserve a permitted archive or local copy when long-term evidence matters.
A closer look
Compare an imported record with the source you read
Bibliographic import retrieves available information; it still needs review.
| Field | Compare with | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Item type | Publisher record | Correct an article imported as a generic web page |
| Title and author | Consulted document | Check the fields without inventing a missing author |
| Attached file | Parent record | Distinguish a standalone PDF from a full bibliographic record |
Zotero recommends saving from a publication or abstract page when available, rather than from the PDF alone.
Does a saved PDF always have a complete record?
No. When metadata retrieval fails, it may remain a standalone attachment. Find its record and identifier.
Supporting documentation : Zotero — Adding Items · Consulted on 2026-10-25. Examples and calculations are illustrative.
A checklist to keep
Use these checks to record what you found. The grid supports a decision; it does not make one for you.
| Check | What to examine | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Author or publisher and title | Record |
| Location | URL and section or page | Save |
| Dates | Published, updated and consulted | Separate |
| Evidence | Claim supported and limitations | Explain |
Read the checklist directly in the table.
What to check
A page without a visible date should not be assigned a guessed publication date.
An archived snapshot may omit dynamic content.
Check reuse conditions before redistributing a full document or image.
Common questions
Is the URL alone a citation?
It is a start, but author, title and dates make the source easier to assess and relocate.
What if the page has no author?
Name the responsible organisation when identifiable; otherwise state that authorship is unclear.
Sources and documentation
Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.
Resolve the next uncertainty
Two articles can rely on the same evidence. Group repeated reports by original document before presenting agreement as corroboration.