DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to a document—such as a journal article, book chapter, report, or any form of intellectual property—in order to provide a permanent internet link to its location on the internet. Here is an in-depth look at DOI:
History
- Conceived in the early 1990s by the International DOI Foundation (IDF).
- The DOI system was developed to address the problem of persistent identification of digital documents, ensuring that they could be found and cited even if their URL changes.
- Launched in 1998, the DOI system was initially focused on academic and scholarly publishing, but it has since expanded to other types of content.
Functionality
- Identification: The DOI acts as a permanent identifier that does not change even if the content moves to a different location.
- Resolution: DOI names are resolved through the Handle System, which directs users to the current location of the content. This system is managed by the Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI).
- Metadata: Each DOI is associated with metadata that provides information about the document, such as title, authors, publication date, and more.
Structure
- A DOI consists of two parts separated by a forward slash:
- The prefix, which identifies the registrant (usually the publisher), and
- The suffix, which identifies the specific document.
- Example: 10.1000/xyz123, where "10.1000" might be the prefix assigned to a particular publisher and "xyz123" is the unique identifier for the document.
Advantages
- Linking and Citation: DOIs make it easier to link to documents in a reliable way, reducing the problem of link rot.
- Interoperability: DOIs can be used across different systems and databases, improving the discoverability and accessibility of content.
- Content Management: Publishers can update or move content without breaking links, as the DOI remains constant.
Usage
- DOIs are widely used in academic publishing to reference articles in scholarly literature.
- They are also used in other sectors like government documents, technical reports, and various types of digital content where permanent identification is beneficial.
Registration
Future Developments
- There is ongoing work to expand the use of DOIs into new areas like datasets, software, and other forms of digital content.
- Enhancements in metadata standards and integration with other identifier systems are also part of the future roadmap.
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