How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Format

Start your citation with the name of the person or organization that created the video. If the creator's real name is available, list it as Last Name, First Name. If the real name is not provided, use the YouTube channel name as the author. When the channel name and the creator's name are the same, skip the author element and start the citation with the video title to avoid repetition. Always prioritize the individual responsible for the content over the platform itself.

Write the full title of the video exactly as it appears on the platform. Place the title in quotation marks and use title case capitalization, even if the original uploader used all caps or lowercase. End the title with a period inside the closing quotation mark. If the video is part of a specific series, you may include the series name after the title, but for most standard YouTube citations, the video title is the primary identifier.

In MLA style, YouTube is considered the container. Write YouTube in italics followed by a comma. Next, list the uploader or channel name as the publisher. If the uploader is the same as the author you listed in Step 1, you can omit the publisher element to keep the citation concise. Use the phrase "uploaded by" followed by the channel name if you previously listed a real person as the author.

Locate the upload date below the video player. Format the date using the day, abbreviated month, and year (e.g., 12 Oct. 2022). Follow the date with a comma. Finally, provide the URL (permalink) for the video. Remove the "https://" prefix and end the citation with a period. If you are citing a video that you accessed on a specific date and think it might be removed, you can add an optional access date at the end, though this is not strictly required by MLA 9.