A DOI, or Digital Object Identifier, is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to a digital object, such as a journal article, research paper, or book, to provide a permanent link to its location on the internet. This system is managed by the International DOI Foundation and ensures that even if the web address of the content changes, the DOI will still direct users to the correct resource.

Key features of a DOI include

  • Permanence: Unlike URLs, which can change, a DOI remains the same, ensuring long-term access to the content.
  • Uniqueness: Each DOI is unique to its specific digital object, preventing confusion and making precise referencing possible.
  • Interoperability: DOIs are used globally, across various systems and platforms, facilitating ease of access and citation.

For example, a DOI might look like this: 7.1000/182. This string can be resolved into a web address using a DOI resolver, such as https://doi.org/7.1000/182, which will redirect you to the location of the digital object.

DOIs are widely used in academic publishing to ensure reliable and consistent citation of sources.