What is a DOI and why is it needed?

DOI, or digital object identifier, has become an integral part of the scientific community. This unique and permanent code is used for accurate identification and convenient citation of publications. Today, we will take a closer look at this element of scientific metadata and discuss why its use is important in modern scientific activity.

What is DOI for scientific publications?

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique digital identifier assigned to electronic documents to simplify their search and use on the Internet. A DOI works as a permanent link to an object that functions independently of any changes to the web address. Each digital identifier is unique and unchangeable.

DOI is very important because it helps to expand the influence and reach of scientific works. Thanks to its uniqueness and permanence, this digital identifier provides easy access to publications for researchers from all over the world. DOI also simplifies their search and citation in other scientific works. As a result, it increases the visibility and scientific reputation of your works in the research community.

It is also worth noting that only the publisher who assigned the DOI to the publication can delete the object with the identifier.

What does a DOI consist of?

A DOI consists of two parts – a prefix and a suffix, which can contain both numbers and letters. Its structure always begins with the number 10, which indicates that it belongs to the DOI system.

1. The prefix is assigned to a specific publisher after signing an agreement with the official DOI registrar. It is a numerical code that identifies the publisher and always starts with 10.
2. The suffix is created directly by the publisher and is unique for each individual object (article, book, etc.). It often encodes information about the journal, volume, issue, or publication itself. Both numbers and Latin letters can be used to form the suffix.

In this example:

• prefix: 10.1080
• suffix: 02673037.2018.1509949

Publishers and other organisations can issue DOIs by entering into an agreement with accredited agencies such as Crossref, which has the largest share of the DOI generation market. It is worth noting that although a publisher may have an unlimited number of publications, each of them must have its own unique suffix within its prefix.

How to obtain a DOI for a scientific article?

1. Select a journal. Ensure that the selected publication assigns DOIs to publications. This information can usually be found on the journal's official website in the ‘For Authors’ section.
2. Prepare the article. Prepare your scientific work in accordance with the journal's requirements, following the recommendations for manuscript formatting.
3. Submitting the manuscript. Send the article to the editorial office. If it successfully passes peer review and is accepted for publication, the journal will automatically assign it a DOI before or during publication.
4. Publication and obtaining a DOI. Once the article is published in print or online, it will receive a unique DOI digital identifier. This makes it easier to cite, increases the visibility of the research in the scientific community, and facilitates indexing in international databases such as Scopus or Web of Science.

Advantages of publishing with a DOI

1. Permanent access. A DOI guarantees stable access to the publication; even if the URL or journal platform changes, the link will always work.
2. Citation. The presence of a DOI digital identifier greatly simplifies the process of citing publications in scientific works and compiling a list of sources used. This, in turn, contributes to an increase in the number of references to the author's work, which has a positive effect on their h-index (Hirsch index).
3. Publication metadata. Storing information about authors, publishers, publication dates, etc. is extremely important for ensuring academic integrity and maintaining open science standards.
4. International standardisation. DOI is actively used in leading scientometrics databases, such as Scopus and Web of Science, providing a unified, reliable and convenient representation of scientific publications at the global level.

Today, DOI is one of the main tools in the field of scientific activity and information exchange. It provides a stable and unified mechanism for identifying and citing digital materials and guarantees their long-term availability. DOI also simplifies the accurate use of sources in scientific and academic environments.

If you need help assigning a DOI, the specialists at Scientific Publications will provide professional support. We provide services for generating and technical support for DOI identifiers. Get a free consultation by filling out the form on the website, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards scientific achievements!