What is a DOI?

Definition

A DOI (digital object identifier) is a unique number used to permanently identify online articles, documents, and other objects -- including journal articles in electronic databases, datasets, audio/video content, ebooks, and research reports.

Because the DOI is permanent, this is a more reliable way to tell your reader where you found the article than location information like a URL or a database name, which may change over time or be hidden behind a proxy server.

A DOI is made up of a string of numbers, letters, and symbols, e.g.:

  • DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002295
  • doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.10.001
  • 10.1093/jahist/jay280

Find an article, dataset, or other object from a DOI

You can use a DOI resolver to track down known articles for which you have a DOI number. Just copy and paste the DOI to be directed to the article.