How to Cite Software
Updated October 2026 · Reviewed June 2026
Software is cited with the author or company, the name, the version, and a [Computer software] descriptor (APA). The version matters — software changes between releases, so you cite the one you actually used.
Here's the format, plus the rule for when software doesn't need a citation at all.
The format
Author/company → title → version → [Computer software] (APA) → publisher/source → URL or DOI. Use the Software / Code type in Manual Entry.
The pandas development team. (2024). pandas (2.2.0) [Computer software]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3509134
In-text(The pandas development team, 2024)
The pandas development team. "Pandas." Zenodo, 2024, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3509134.
In-text(The pandas development team)
The pandas development team. "Pandas." Zenodo. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3509134.
In-text(The pandas development team 2024)
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Citation style
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020). The 7th dropped the publisher location and the "Retrieved from" prefix that the 6th required.
When you DON'T need to cite software
APA's rule: standard, widely available software doesn't need a citation. You don't cite Microsoft Word, Excel, or a common web browser — just mention them in your text. You do cite software that's specialized, central to your method, or whose specific version matters — statistical packages (SPSS, R, Stata), analysis libraries, custom tools, and anything a reader would need to reproduce your work.
Version is the key field
Always include the version number (or release date) — results can differ between versions, and reproducibility depends on it. For programming-language packages, cite the package version you imported, not just the language.
Code, packages, and the citation file
For open-source code, check for a CITATION.cff file or a "How to cite" section — authors often specify exactly how they want to be cited, sometimes with a DOI. Hosted on GitHub? See How to Cite a GitHub Repository. Official guidance: the APA Style Blog on citing software and Purdue OWL.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- Do I need to cite Microsoft Word or Excel?
- No — APA says standard, widely available software doesn't need a citation; just name it in your text. Cite specialized software (SPSS, R, custom tools) where the version matters for reproducibility.
- How do I cite software in APA?
- Author/Company. (Year). Name (Version) [Computer software]. Publisher/Source. URL or DOI.
- Why is the version so important?
- Software behavior and results change between versions. Citing the exact version (or release date) makes your work reproducible.
- How do I cite an R or Python package?
- Cite the package as software with its version; many packages provide a recommended citation via a CITATION file or a citation() function. Include the version you imported.