A figure may be a chart, a graph, a photograph, a drawing, or any other illustration or nontextual depiction. Any type of illustration or image other than a table is referred to as a figure.
Please check the APA style website for an illustration of the basic figure component & placement of figure in a text.
More information & examples from the APA Style Manual p225–250
Note format - for notes below the figure
Note. Explanations to supplement or clarify information in the image. Reprinted [or adapted] from Book Title (page number), by Author First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, Year. Publisher. Copyright Year by the Name of Copyright Holder. |
Example:
In-text citation:
This is clearly indicated in Figure 1,... |
Reference list entry:
Rasmussen, E. J. (2009). Employment relations in New Zealand (2nd ed.). Pearson. |
If you simply refer to a figure, format the in- text citation and the reference list entry as for for books.
In-text citation:
... interpretations of the painting “Mona Lisa” (Gombrich 1995, p. 203). |
Reference list entry:
Gombrich, E. H. (1995). The story of art (16th ed.). Phaidon. |
Note format - for notes below the figure
Note. Explanations to supplement or clarify information in the image. From “Title of Article,” by Author First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, Year, Journal Title, Volume(issue), page number (url or doi if it's from an ejournal). Copyright Year by the Name of Copyright Holder. |
Example:
In-text citation:
As shown in Figure 2, there are five groups of factors that influence... |
Reference list entry:
Jahan, N., & Rahman, S. (2016). Factors that obstruct tourism development in Bangladesh. CLEAR International Journal of Research in Commerce & Management, 7(9), 48–55. |
If you simply refer to a figure and do not include it in your text, format the in text citation and the reference list entry in the usual way for an article.
In-text citation:
... in the installation "Talking about the Weather"... (Randerson, 2007, p. 446). |
Reference list entry:
Randerson, J. (2007). Between reason and sensation: Antipodean artists and climate change. Leonardo, 40(5), 442–448. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon.2007.40.5.442 |
Note format - for notes below the figure
Note. Explanations to supplement or clarify information in the image. Title of the database. Copyright year by the Name of Copyright Holder. |
Examples:
In-text citation:
As Figure 1 shows, sales of meat pies ... As shown in Figure 2, ... |
Reference list:
EconData. (2019). Hong Kong: visitor arrivals Jan 1996 - Jul 2019 [Graph]. EMED Emerging Asia database. The Nielsen Company. (2011). The market location and dollar sales of meat pies in New Zealand, March 2009– March 2011 [Graph]. Nielsen Market Information Digest New Zealand. |
If you refer to a figure, format the in-text citation and the reference list entry as for databases.
In-text citation:
...trade volume...(Euromonitor International, 2010). The painting ... (Pollock, 1942). |
Reference list:
Euromonitor International. (2010). Trade volume of ready to drink high strength premixes in New Zealand, measured in 000 litres [Graph]. Passport. https://go.euromonitor.com/passport |
Pollock, J. (1942). Male and female [Painting]. ARTstor. |
Note format - for notes below the figure
Note. Explanations to supplement or clarify information in the image. From Title of Website. Website URL. Copyright year by the Name of Copyright Holder. |
Examples:
As Figure 5 shows, ... As shown in Figure 6, ... |
Reference list:
America's Army. (n.d.). America's Army screen dump showing soldiers and watch tower [Photograph]. http://www.americasarmy.com. Vermeer, J. (c. 1665). Girl with a pearl earring [Painting]. Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallary, The Hague. http://www.mauritshuis.nl/index.aspx?Chapterid=2295. |
If you refer to a figure, format the in-text citation and the reference list entry as for websites.
In-text citation:
... facial expression reminiscent of Munch’s The Scream. |
Reference list:
Notes: