In academic research, accuracy and traceability are everything. A DOI, or Digital Object Identifier, ensures that a specific article, paper, or publication can always be found—even if its web address changes. It acts like a unique fingerprint for scholarly documents, providing a permanent link to their source. In this guide, you’ll learn what a DOI is, how to find it, and how to use it in different citation formats such as APA, MLA, and AMA.
What is a DOI?
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a string of letters, numbers, and symbols that uniquely identifies a piece of academic writing—like a journal article, report, or e-book.
Think of it as a Social Security number for a research paper. While URLs can change over time, a DOI is permanent and will always direct readers to the correct document.
For example:https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2013.10.3
Where Can You Find the DOI?
Finding a DOI is simple if you know where to look:
- On the article itself – It’s often printed on the first page, in the header, or in the footer.
- On CrossRef.org – Visit CrossRef.org and use the “Search Metadata” option to look up an article’s DOI.
If you can’t locate it in the PDF or online version, CrossRef is the most reliable place to verify it.
How to Use a DOI to Access an Article
Modern DOIs are clickable links. Simply paste the DOI URL into your web browser to open the article.
- Example:
https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2013.10.3
If your DOI starts with only the number “10”, addhttps://doi.org/before it to make it a functional link.
For university access, institutions like UIC recommend prefixing the DOI with their library proxy link (e.g., https://proxy.cc.uic.edu/login?url=https://doi.org/), which gives students access to subscription-only resources.
How to Cite a DOI in Different Formats
1. APA Format
APA style places the DOI at the end of a reference.
Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Example:
Smith, J. A., & Brown, L. B. (2020). Understanding soil fertility. Agricultural Journal, 15(3), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.1234/agri.2020.03.58
If no DOI exists, omit it and end the citation with the page number.
2. AMA Format
In AMA (American Medical Association) style, the DOI replaces the URL.
Format:
Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi:10.xxxxx
Example:
Lee R, Khan T. Veterinary ethics and law. Vet Med Today. 2021;12(4):245–260. doi:10.1000/vmt.2021.12.4
3. MLA Format
The Modern Language Association recommends adding the DOI at the end of the citation.
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. “Article Title.” Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. ##–##. Name of Database, doi:10.xxxxx.
Example:
Sharma, R., and Karki, P. “Impact of Soil Erosion on Agricultural Productivity.” Journal of Agri Studies, vol. 5, no. 2, 2022, pp. 21–30. AgriDatabase, doi:10.2234/jas.2022.5.2.21.
If there’s no DOI, include the article’s URL instead.
Why DOI Matters in Research
Citing with a DOI enhances credibility, accuracy, and traceability in your academic writing. It ensures that your readers can always locate the same version of the work you cited. This is particularly essential for:
- Students preparing research papers and theses
- Scholars publishing in peer-reviewed journals
- Professionals maintaining ethical citation standards
Conclusion
The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) system is one of the cornerstones of modern academic referencing. It guarantees permanence and precision, ensuring that every citation points to the exact work you intended. Whether you’re following APA, AMA, or MLA style, always include the DOI when available—it’s the key to maintaining academic integrity in the digital age.
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