1.

The APA, for reasons unknown, calls online references or sources electronic references.

   2.

A basic online reference looks like this:

Mills, D. (2008, May 12). Title. Retrieved May 9, 2008, from www.web.sfx
[Author]  [Publish Date] [Title] [Prefix and access date]   [URL]

3.

The online information for almost all references includes a prefix like Retrieved, the retrieval (or access) date, and a URL for the page. Other elements are optional.

   4.

If you’re citing an online source that you found on a named web site, you can add the site’s name to help your reader recognize the source. For example:

Mills, D. (2008, May 9). Title. Retrieved May 9, 2008, from Famous Web site: www.web.sfx
[Author] [Publish Date] [Title] [Prefix and access date]   [name of web site] [URL]

   5.

Some online material, particularly scholarly journal articles, has been assigned unique identifiers, called Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs); a DOI is guaranteed to not change for a specific source, so if your source has a DOI, you don’t need to provide any other online access information, e.g:

Mill, D. (2008, May 12). Title. doi:1234567.8901.2345
[Author] [Publish Date] [Title] [DOI]

   6.

You sometimes use a prefix other than Retrieved from for online material; for example, use Message posted to for a blog or wiki posting. Use Available from  if you’re citing a source that you access through another web site, like a file you downloaded by clicking a link on a web page:

Mill, D. (2008, May 12). Title. Available from www.someplace.com
[Author] [Publish Date] [Title] [Prefix]       [URL]

   7.

Entries in online databases are considered to be in final, stable form in APA Style, so you don’t include an access date with these either. If available, you should provide the ID of your source in the database. For example:

ACLU-NIS. (2003). Title [Data file]. Retrieved from ACLU Database. (1234)
[Agency]  [Date] [Title][Media info] [Access prefix][database] [ID in database]

   8.

For most traditional material, like an online newsletter, an online copy of a book, an online movie, and so on, you cite the online version just like you would the traditional version, and add the online retrieval information at the end of the reference. For example:

Mill, D. (2002). The Big Book (p. 2). Retrieved May 4, 2008, from www.web.sfx
[Author] [Date]  [Title]    [page(s)] [Prefix and access date]    [URL]