What Is a DOI?

Looking for the full method? Read the detailed guide: How to List Publications on an Academic CV.

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique, persistent code assigned to a published item, such as a journal article, that links to its current web location even if the web address changes. DOIs begin with "10." followed by a publisher prefix, a slash and a suffix.

Example

Illustrative format only (not a real article): 10.1234/example.2026.001. Adding it after https://doi.org/ takes you to the article's landing page. Many journals ask authors to include DOIs in reference lists, and a DOI helps readers find the exact article you cite.

Common misunderstanding

A DOI does not show that a paper is peer reviewed, accurate or from a good journal; it only identifies and locates a record. Preprints, datasets and even low-quality outputs can have DOIs.

Learn more

See how DOIs are used in academic CVs and reference lists in How to List Publications on an Academic CV.

This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.