What Does “n.d.” Mean in APA Citation Style, and When Should You Use It?

In APA style, “n.d.” is used when a source has no publication date. It stands for “no date” and replaces the year section of a citation so readers know the information is missing rather than overlooked.

Writers use “n.d.” to keep the reference clear and complete even when the original source does not provide a date. This is common with webpages, online articles, and digital materials that are not timestamped or have unclear publication details.

Here is how “n.d.” works and where it shows up in APA formatting:

• Meaning of “n.d.” – it tells the reader that the publication year is not available. Instead of leaving the year blank, APA requires this abbreviation to keep the citation consistent.
  
  

• When to use it – writers use “n.d.” whenever the source has no visible publication date. This avoids guessing or inserting incorrect information.
  
  

• How it appears in an in-text citation – it replaces the year inside the parentheses. For example: (Smith, n.d.).
  
  

• How it appears in a reference list – the abbreviation sits where the year normally goes. Example format: Smith, J. (n.d.). Title of article. Website Name.
  
  

• Why APA requires it – “n.d.” helps maintain accuracy and transparency. It signals to readers that the missing date is intentional, not an error.
  
  

• Common places you will see it – undated webpages, online PDFs, reports without timestamps, or materials where only the author and title are provided.

Using “n.d.” keeps citations clean and avoids confusion about whether a date was forgotten or simply unavailable. It also helps readers understand how recent or established a source might be when evaluating its reliability.