DOI System Overview:
– DOI is a type of Handle System handle.
– DOI consists of a prefix and a suffix separated by a slash.
– DOI names are unique identifiers for digital objects.
– DOI system provides persistent identification for objects.
– DOI names can identify various objects at different levels of detail.
– DOI system includes scholarly materials through Crossref and Airiti.
– Research datasets are managed through Datacite.
– European Union official publications are part of the DOI system.
– Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure project contributes to the DOI system.
– Permanent global identifiers for audio/visual content are assigned through EIDR.
DOI Display and Implementation:
– The official DOI Handbook suggests displaying DOIs in the format ‘doi:10.1000/182.’
– CrossRef recommends displaying a persistent URL instead of the official format.
– DOI names can be resolved to web locations.
– The display format may vary based on recommendations from different agencies.
– DOI system operates through a federation of registration agencies.
– International DOI Foundation (IDF) administers the DOI system.
– Organizations meeting obligations can assign DOIs.
– Over 85 million DOI names were assigned by 9,500 organizations by April 2013.
– Failure to update DOI metadata can lead to dead links.
DOI Features and Benefits:
– Metadata associated with DOIs provides relevant information about objects.
– DOI system combines the Handle System and the indecs Content Model.
– DOI system allows metadata association with objects.
– Social infrastructure is integrated into the DOI system for its functionality.
– DOI names are human-readable and fit into the URI specification.
– DOI offers persistent resolution to related current data.
– DOI system does not assume a specific business model.
– DOI names do not depend on the object’s location.
DOI Standards and Registration:
– The DOI system is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization.
– The DOI syntax is a NISO standard, first standardized in 2000.
– Registration agencies provide services to DOI registrants.
– Registration agencies allocate DOI prefixes and register DOI names.
– A list of current registration agencies is maintained by the International DOI Foundation.
– Registration agencies generally charge a fee to assign a new DOI name.
DOI Resolution and IDF Structure:
– DOI name resolution is provided through the Handle System.
– DOI names can be resolved using a DOI resolver like doi.org.
– International DOI Foundation (IDF) is a non-profit organization.
– IDF safeguards intellectual property rights related to the DOI system.
– IDF supports the development and promotion of the DOI system.
– Improvements to the DOI system are available to all DOI registrants.
A digital object identifier (DOI) is a persistent identifier or handle used to uniquely identify various objects, standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). DOIs are an implementation of the Handle System; they also fit within the URI system (Uniform Resource Identifier). They are widely used to identify academic, professional, and government information, such as journal articles, research reports, data sets, and official publications.
 | |
| Full name | Digital object identifier |
|---|---|
| Acronym | DOI |
| Organisation | International DOI Foundation |
| Introduced | 2000 |
| Example | 10.1000/182 |
| Website | www |
A DOI aims to resolve to its target, the information object to which the DOI refers. This is achieved by binding the DOI to metadata about the object, such as a URL where the object is located. Thus, by being actionable and interoperable, a DOI differs from ISBNs or ISRCs which are identifiers only. The DOI system uses the indecs Content Model for representing metadata.
The DOI for a document remains fixed over the lifetime of the document, whereas its location and other metadata may change. Referring to an online document by its DOI should provide a more stable link than directly using its URL. But if its URL changes, the publisher must update the metadata for the DOI to maintain the link to the URL. It is the publisher's responsibility to update the DOI database. If they fail to do so, the DOI resolves to a dead link, leaving the DOI useless.
The developer and administrator of the DOI system is the International DOI Foundation (IDF), which introduced it in 2000. Organizations that meet the contractual obligations of the DOI system and are willing to pay to become a member of the system can assign DOIs. The DOI system is implemented through a federation of registration agencies coordinated by the IDF. By late April 2011 more than 50 million DOI names had been assigned by some 4,000 organizations, and by April 2013 this number had grown to 85 million DOI names assigned through 9,500 organizations.
