A digital object identifier (DOI) is a permanent, unique string of letters and/or numbers that is assigned to online resources, such as journal articles, books, data sets, and technical reports. A DOI is persistent, meaning that it will not change, even if the location of the item changes over time.
All DOIs begin with a 10 and contain a prefix and a suffix separated by a slash. The prefix is a unique number assigned to organizations; the suffix is assigned by the organization.
DOIs can often be used in citations in lieu of URLs.
Here are some examples of what a DOI looks like. These resources are available free online or accessible through our databases:
How do DOIs work?
DOIs are standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). DOIs contain descriptive information (metadata) that helps describe and identify the particular object. Required descriptive information includes:
When a DOI is created, a record is generated with a registration agency that can be updated if the digital object moves to a different URL. DOIs are assigned through registration agencies, such as DataCite or CrossRef. Many publishers have agreements with those registration agencies to create DOIs for the works they publish.
Where do I find a DOI?
The DOI is usually located on the first page of an electronic journal article, in the header. It is usually either near the top of the page, under the citation information, or near the copyright notice or author's information.
Information in this section was adapted from LibGuides created by the University of Washington and the University of Texas at Austin.
They are similar, but they are not the same. Permalinks ensure all AU affiliated researchers are using the correct links to our resources. When saving citations or linking content from a library database, always use the permalink, rather than the URL in the browser address bar. The URL will not work once you end your session (close your browser).
Permalinks are useful for saving citations as you research so you can easily revisit them later.
Here is an example of a permalink in our catalog. If saving citations in your library account, click the thumbtack icon in the right corner. To copy the permalink, click "copy the permalink to clipboard."
