How to Cite a Website in Vancouver

Complete guide with examples for citing webpages, online news articles, and organizational sites in Vancouver referencing style (also known as NLM or ICMJE style).

Basic Format: Webpage with an Author

Vancouver is a numbered referencing style. References are listed in the order they first appear in the text. For websites, include the author, title, [Internet] tag, place of publication, publisher, year, and access details.

Reference List Entry

1. Author AA, Author BB. Title of webpage [Internet]. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication [updated Year Month Day; cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL

Example: Online News Article

Citation

1. Reynolds G. Why walking is the best exercise [Internet]. Toronto (ON): CBC News; 2023 [cited 2026 Apr 8]. Available from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/walking-exercise-1.1234567

In‑Text Citation

Reynolds (1) reported that walking provides significant health benefits.
Walking is the best exercise (1).

Webpage with Group or Corporate Author

Use the organization's name as the author. Omit "The" preceding an organization. Use full name, separating divisions of an organization by a comma.[reference:0]

Example

2. World Health Organization. Mental health and climate change [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2024 [cited 2026 Apr 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-climate-change

Webpage with No Author

If no author is listed, begin the citation with the title of the webpage.

Example

3. Indigenous languages in Canada [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada; [cited 2026 Apr 8]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/indigenous-languages.html

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a "cited" date always required?

Yes. Vancouver style requires a citation date (the date you accessed the online source) because web content can change over time.

How do I format the publication place?

Follow Canadian or US cities with the two‑letter abbreviation for the province, territory, or state in parentheses (e.g., Toronto (ON), Bethesda (MD)). For cities outside Canada/US, include the country name or ISO country code.[reference:1]

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