What is a DOI?
Everything you need to know about Digital Object Identifiers
🔗 DOI Definition
DOI stands for Digital Object Identifier. It's a permanent link to an online document (usually academic articles, research papers, or datasets) that won't break even if the article moves to a different website.
Think of it like a social security number for research papers - each DOI is unique and permanently identifies one specific document.
📖 What Does a DOI Look Like?
Anatomy of a DOI
✨ Real DOI Examples
Journal Article
10.1038/nature12373A real DOI from Nature journal. The "1038" identifies Nature as the publisher.
Scientific Study
10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.015A DOI from Cell Press. The "j.cell" indicates it's from Cell journal, published by Elsevier (1016).
Research Dataset
10.5061/dryad.12345DOIs aren't just for articles! This one identifies a dataset in the Dryad repository.
🎯 Why DOIs Are Important
✅ Permanent Links
URLs can break or change when websites reorganize. DOIs never change - they always point to the same article.
🔍 Easy to Find
You can search for any DOI at doi.org, and it will take you directly to the article, no matter who published it.
📚 Citation Standard
Academic style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) require DOIs in citations when available. They're the gold standard.
🌍 Global System
DOIs work internationally across thousands of publishers. One system for the entire research world.
🔍 How to Find a DOI
1. Look at the Top of the Article
Most journal articles display the DOI prominently near the title, author names, or publication date.
2. Check the Article Footer or Sidebar
If not at the top, look at the bottom of the first page or in a sidebar. Common labels include:
- • "DOI:"
- • "Digital Object Identifier:"
- • "https://doi.org/..."
- • "Article identifier:"
3. Search on Google Scholar or Crossref
If you can't find the DOI on the article itself:
- Google Scholar: Search for the article title. The DOI often appears in the citation info.
- Crossref: Visit search.crossref.org and search by title or author.
4. Look in the Database Where You Found It
If you accessed the article through a database (PubMed, JSTOR, EBSCOhost), the DOI is usually displayed in the article details or citation export options.
📝 How to Use DOIs in Citations
Important: Always format DOIs as URLs starting with https://doi.org/
APA 7 Format
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx Example:
Smith, J. (2024). Climate change effects on coral reefs. Nature, 615, 234-245. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12373 MLA 9 Format
Format:
Author Last, First. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. ##-##, doi:10.xxxx/xxxxx. Example:
Smith, Jennifer. "Climate Change Effects on Coral Reefs." Nature, vol. 615, 2024, pp. 234-245, doi:10.1038/nature12373. Chicago Style
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): Pages. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx. Example:
Smith, Jennifer. "Climate Change Effects on Coral Reefs." Nature 615 (2024): 234-245. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12373. ❓ Common DOI Questions
Q: What if the article doesn't have a DOI?
A: Not all articles have DOIs, especially older publications or articles from smaller journals. If there's no DOI, use the URL instead. For print-only articles, omit the DOI/URL entirely.
Q: Should I include "DOI:" or "doi:" before the number?
A: It depends on the style:
- • APA: Use https://doi.org/10.xxxx (no "DOI:" label)
- • MLA: Use doi:10.xxxx (lowercase "doi:" prefix)
- • Chicago: Use https://doi.org/10.xxxx (no "DOI:" label)
Q: Can I use the DOI.org link to access the article?
A: Yes! Just type https://doi.org/ followed by the DOI number into your browser. Example: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12373. This works even if you don't have access to the journal.
Q: Are DOIs case-sensitive?
A: No! DOIs are not case-sensitive. "10.1234/EXAMPLE" and "10.1234/example" point to the same article. However, it's best practice to copy the DOI exactly as it appears.
Q: Do DOIs expire or break?
A: No! That's the whole point of DOIs. Even if a publisher moves the article to a new website or the journal changes names, the DOI will always redirect to the correct article.
💡 Quick DOI Tips
- ✓Always use DOIs when available - they're more reliable than URLs
- ✓Copy DOIs carefully - even a small typo will break the link
- ✓Format as https://doi.org/10.xxxx - this is the modern standard
- ✓Test the DOI link - click it to make sure it works before submitting your paper
- ✓Don't add periods at the end - DOIs don't end with punctuation
✨ CiteForge Handles DOIs Automatically
When you paste a DOI into CiteForge, we automatically fetch the article details and format your citation perfectly. No more worrying about DOI formatting rules!
Try CiteForge Now →Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about DOIs. Always follow your instructor's specific citation requirements and verify against official style manuals. Citations provided as-is.