How to Format URLs and DOIs in Harvard

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 09/24/2025

• A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent and unique alphanumeric code assigned to digital documents, most often academic journal articles. DOIs do not change over time, which makes them more stable and reliable than URLs.
• A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address where a source can be accessed. URLs are commonly used for websites, online reports, news articles, or other digital resources that may not have a DOI.

The Harvard Handbook recommends including a DOI if available. If a DOI is not provided, the citation should instead include a full URL in clickable form.

Harvard Rules for Formatting DOIs

• Always prefer a DOI over a URL.
• Do not add “https://doi.org/” before the DOI in Harvard style.
• Do not hyperlink the DOI.
• Do not include an access date when using a DOI.

Harvard Rules for Formatting URLs

• Begin with Available at: before the URL.
• Use the full URL beginning with https://.
• Always hyperlink the URL in digital documents.
• Do not place a period directly after the URL to avoid confusion.
• Add an access date in round brackets after the URL. The access date is written in the format Day Month Year.
• Access dates are only required for URLs, not for DOIs.

Use Hanging Indentation in the Works Cited List: Every entry in the works cited page must use hanging indentation. This means the first line of each entry is flush left, and all following lines are indented by half an inch. This format makes the page easier to read and helps separate each citation clearly. Alphabetize Citations by the First Element: Citations in the works cited page must be arranged alphabetically based on the first element in each entry. This first element is usually the author’s last name, but if no author is given, the title of the work should be used for alphabetizing.