DOI
acronymPronunciation: /diː oʊ aɪ/
Also written as: DOI — Digital Object Identifier
A Digital Object Identifier is a persistent alphanumeric string that provides a permanent link to digital content. DOIs ensure long-term accessibility and proper citation of scholarly works regardless of changes in web addresses.
Full Definition
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a standardized persistent identifier system used to uniquely identify digital objects, particularly scholarly publications, datasets, and other academic content. Managed by the International DOI Foundation through registration agencies like Crossref, DOIs provide permanent, reliable links that redirect to current locations of digital content even if URLs change. This system is essential for maintaining the integrity of scholarly communication and ensuring proper attribution in academic libraries.
Plain English
A special web address that always works to find a specific research article or document, even if the regular website address changes.
In Editorial Context
An essential metadata element that must be consistently applied, verified, and maintained in editorial systems to ensure proper citation tracking and content discoverability.
Etymology & History
Developed by the International DOI Foundation to address the problem of broken links and ensure persistent access to digital scholarly content as academic publishing moved online.
Initially adopted primarily by STM publishers, now standard across all academic disciplines and expanding to datasets, software, and other research outputs.
Usage
"All articles in our institutional repository must include proper DOI links to ensure accurate citation tracking and persistent access."
Usage note: Always include the full DOI URL (https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy) in citations rather than just the alphanumeric string.
Context: academic publishing, citation management, repository systems, scholarly communication
Region: international
Also known as
Contrasted with
Don't confuse with
Often confused with regular web addresses (URLs), but DOIs are specifically designed to be permanent while URLs can change.