The cite attribute is not presented to the reader by many browsers, even though it can hold important information.
citr.js is JavaScript that exposes this information along with the title attribute in <blockquote> and <q> elements to create meaningful references.
citr.js is made available under the Open Software License 3.0.
In your HTML
- create <blockquote> or <q> elements with title and/or cite attributes. For the title, write the reference in the format you want;
- with <q> elements, trigger indirect quoting (no quotation marks) by setting the class to "indirect";
- choose the type of reference by setting the class to either "marginalia" or "harvard" for <q>, or "footnote" for <blockquote> and <q> elements; and then
- place citr.js in a <script> element at the end of the <body>.
citr.js will then marry up the URL in the cite attribute with the title; and optionally create a list of references. For examples and wider discussion, please head to JavaScript Rendering of References for Quotations and Paraphrases.