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APA 7th Citation Guide

A guide on APA Style 7th edition, derived from the APA Style Manual

General guidelines for citing computer programs, apps, software, etc.

General Guidelines
  • Ensure your punctuation is correct
    • Computer program / apparatus / App / Equipment title: Write the title in italics and in sentence case. 
    • Publisher of the program; location of the app: In regular font and in title case, e.g. Biostat; Google Play Store.
  • Author and Publisher: If the author and the publisher are the same, then omit the publisher.
  • Date: Provide the date of the year of publication of the version used.
  • Ensure your formatting is correct: â€‹Follow our red format structure and view our examples in black. E.g. For the elements of the reference we have italicized, you also italicize that same element in your reference.

Template for creating computer program and app citations

Use the following chart to help you build citations even if the APA manual does not explicitly address your type of computer program or mobile app.

Author Date Title Publisher URL

Author, A. A. & Author, B. B.

Name of Group.

(2020).

Title of work (Version 1.2)  [Computer software].

Title of work (Version 4.8) [Mobile app].

Name of apparatus (Model number) [Apparatus].

Name of equipment (Model number) [Equipment].

Publisher.

App Store.

Google Play Store.

 https://xxxxx

Computer Program

Format

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work (Version) [Computer software]. Publisher.

Corporate Author. (Year of publication). Title of work (Version) [Computer software]. http://xxxxx

 
Note

Only cite a program or app if you are taking information directly from it, not just mentioning it in your work.

 
Examples

Family Involvement Partnership for Learning. (1998). Partners for learning: Preparing teachers to involve families: Teacher & administrator preparation kit. [Computer software]. 

EndNote X7 for Mac. (2013). [Computer software]. ThomsonReuters.

Square Enix Business Division 1. (2020). Final fantasy VII remake [Computer software]. 

Apparatus or equipment

Format

Name of Group. (Year of publication). Title of apparatus/equipment [Apparatus and software]. https://xxxxx

Corporate Author. (Year of publication). Title of work (Version) [Computer software]. http://xxxxx

 
Examples

SR Research. (2016). Eyelink 1000 plus [Apparatus and software]. https://www.sr-research.com/eyelink-1000-plus/

Slack Technologies, Inc. (2013). Slack (2020) [Apparatus and software]. https://slack.com/

Mobile app

Format

Name of Producer (Year of publication). Title of app (Version) [Mobile app]. Download Location. https://xxxxx

Corporate Author. (Year of publication). Title of work (Version) [Computer software]. http://xxxxx

 
Note

Only cite a program or app if you are taking information directly from it, not just mentioning it in your work.

 
Examples

Epocrates. (2019). Epocrates medical reference (Version 18.12) [Mobile app]. App Store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/epocrates/id281935788?mt=8

Instagram. (2020). [Mobile app]. Google Play Store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instagram.android&hl=en_US

APA Publication Manual Section #

For more details and examples on how to reference journal articles, including for types not covered here, consult the following section in the APA 7th Publication Manual:

Section 10.10 Computer Software, Mobile Apps, Apparatuses, and Equipment 77-80. 

EndNote Reference Type

Augusta University provides free access to EndNote citation management tool students, faculty, and staff.

If you use EndNote to input your references, then choose the reference type underneath. If you export or import your citations, then check that EndNote automatically categorized them to the below reference type:

Reference Type: Computer program.