Why would you want to know who authored a web page?

Web pages do not undergo the same rigorous editorial process used to create published books, magazines and newspapers. In traditional publishing, peer review, and fact checking are part of the process. Background checks are run to assure that authors know what they are writing about. By contrast, web publishing is less formal, and by implication the information published on the web is less likely to be thoroughly verified. It is up to the reader to check a web page author's credentials. Investigating the author will help you to trust the credibility of the information found on a web page.

Where will you find an author's name?

Sometimes the author's name is prominently displayed at the top or bottom of the web page. Most of the time you'll have to dig for this information. Author information is often found on an "About this Site" page. Once you have the author's name, use it to search for additional writing and biographical information on the site and elsewhere. You can also use a search engine to research the author's background. Sometimes there will be no author's name, which makes it difficult to judge the credibility of the information you seek.