Data Citation with only a top-level Online Link

data citation

FAQ

website

URL

OECD

Census Bureau

Author

Lars Vilhuber

Many databases with an online interface make it hard to find an easy-to-cite URL. Nevertheless, a few clicks can often show a referenceable URL. Here’s an example:

OECD Statistics

The top-level URL is https://stats.oecd.org/, and (almost) never changes. However, the User Guide, page 34, shows how to share a URL for a particular query. The usual citation rules for URLs then can be applied.

Data.census.gov

The top-level URL is https://data.census.gov/. There are several million tables behind the website. However, for any given table and view, one can click on the “More Tools” at the top right, and get a citation. This will point to the exact table you are viewing.

Example:

U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. “Households and Families.” American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S1101, https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2023.S1101?q=same-gender+household. Accessed on 23 Aug 2025.