If you reference a quote or write about the idea from an author in the main body, do you have to provide a page number?

In APA Style, page numbers must always be provided when you include a direct quote in your essay.  When you are paraphrasing or summarising someone else's words/ideas, you are encouraged, but not required, to provide the page number.  It's a good idea to include the page number when it would help the reader locate the relevant passage in a long or complex text.

The link below provides examples of how to include the page number in your in-text citation (they are not required in the reference list).