DOI Digital Object Identifiers - Digital Persistent IDentifiers - PIDs - Research Guides at Virginia Commonwealth University

What is a DOI?

Digital Object Identifiers or DOIs are codes that point to digital content permanently. They are used to point to online content in a way that lasts even when web links change. When the website hosting a digital object changes, the DOI is updated to point to the new location. If you have ever searched for articles or other content based on the web addresses (URLs) in a syllabus or bibliography, you have probably gotten a "404 not found" type of error indicating those links are no longer there. Since we want articles, datasets, and other research products to be with us long into the future, we need a pointer that is more persistent than changeable websites. That's why we use a DOI instead of a traditional web address.

Ways to get a DOI

One of the most important considerations for making research findings Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (or FAIR) is using persistent identifiers for disseminated objects. Everything in FAIR depends on Findability, and Findability depends on PIDs. You should make sure that any digital book, article, dataset, preprint, presentation slidedeck, poster, or other digital dissemination product has a DOI.

If you do not want to post the content, you can still post an abstract with a DOI and clear directions on how to arrange for access to the data or content.

There are many ways to get a DOI. Two great starting places are Scholars Compass for text and media (article preprints, conference slides and posters, and Open Access postprints), and Open Science Framework for datasets, protocols, and code. In either repository, there is an option to request a DOI.

Open Science Framework
OSF is a very powerful and flexible place for working with research and then sharing it publicly and archiving it for the long term. Throughout the OSF project, the web address serves as a persistent ID. After an OSF project is set to public, you can request that the public project receives a DOI.
Scholars Compass
VCU's online platform for the intellectual output of VCU’s academic, research, and administrative communities. Its goal is to provide wide and stable access to the exemplary work of VCU’s faculty, researchers, students, and staff. When publishing a work that does not already have a DOI, you can request the creation (or "minting") of a DOI via Scholars Compass.