APA 7
APA 7th Edition is the most commonly used referencing style here at the University of Portsmouth. Below you will find general guidance on how to reference and cite using APA 7th Edition, as well as examples for the specific sources you are likely to use in your assignments.
Your department or lecturer may prefer you to reference sources differently from the guidance given here. Always follow the requirements of your department or lecturer.
External visitors are welcome to use this guide, but note that your institution's requirements may differ from those suggested here.
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As with text, the source of previously published computer code needs to be acknowledged, but the APA style guide does not currently give examples. Use the example below as a guide if you need to reference and cite computer code.
It is standard practice for programmers to re-use code from elsewhere. However, using large amounts of other people’s code even if properly referenced may not allow you to demonstrate your own skills and abilities and result in a lower mark, so check the assignment brief and/or consult with your tutor if you are unsure about code re-use.
Reference
Author, Initial. (Year). Title (Version number if any) [Source code]. URL
Smith, J. (2011). GraphicsDrawer source code (Version 2.0) [Source code]. http://www. graphicsdrawer.com
In-text Citation
The in-text citation is contained in comments in the code:
**/
* The following code snippet was taken from/adapted from Smith (2011).
**/