A DOI, or Digital Object Identifier, is a unique string of letters, numbers, and symbols assigned to scholarly documents such as journal articles. It acts like a permanent digital fingerprint for academic content. Unlike URLs that may change or break over time, a DOI remains constant and always leads to the same resource.
For agriculture, veterinary, and research students, using DOIs strengthens citation accuracy and ensures long-term accessibility to scientific literature; an essential aspect of academic writing and research publishing.
Where Can You Find the DOI of a Journal Article?
Most recently published articles display the DOI clearly, often on the first page or within the header or footer. If the DOI isn’t visible in the article PDF:
You can locate it using:
CrossRef Metadata Search
CrossRef provides a global DOI lookup system for academic content. Students can simply search article metadata (title, author, year) to retrieve the DOI they need.
How Do You Use a DOI to Access a Journal Article?
Since 2011, DOIs have been standardized as active, clickable URLs. If a DOI begins with https://doi.org/, you can paste the link directly into your browser. It will redirect you to the publisher’s full-text page.
Old-style DOIs started with 10.xxxx. These can be converted into URLs by adding:
https://doi.org/ before the number.
For example:https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2013.10.3
Some academic institutions use proxy login URLs for off-campus users, which route DOI pages through their subscription system. This ensures access to full-text articles behind paywalls.
How to Cite a DOI in APA Format (7th Edition)
APA style requires including the DOI whenever it is available. Place it at the end of the reference without adding a period afterward.
APA Example (with DOI):
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
APA Example (without DOI):
If the article has no DOI (often older publications), leave out the DOI:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, volume(issue), pages.
How to Cite a DOI in AMA/JAMA Format
AMA style uses a slightly different approach. The DOI is placed at the end of the citation and is preceded by doi:
AMA Example:
Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi:10.xxxx/xxxxxxxxxx
AMA does not use access dates or URLs for DOIs.
How MLA Uses DOIs in Citations
MLA 8th edition encourages including the DOI at the end of a citation when citing online scholarly journal articles.
MLA Example:
Last name, First name, and First name Last name. “Article Title.” Journal Name, vol. x, no. x, Year, pp. xx–xx. Name of Database, doi:10.xxxx/xxxxxx.
If a DOI does not exist, MLA allows using the article’s URL instead.
Some instructors may ask students to add the “date accessed” for clarity, although it is not officially required.
Why DOIs Matter for Agriculture and Veterinary Research Students
Reliable citations are the foundation of academic integrity. Using DOIs ensures:
• Permanent access to research articles
• Accurate referencing in theses, assignments, and publications
• Better organization of literature reviews
• Stronger credibility in your research writing
As more agricultural and veterinary journals shift toward digital publishing, DOIs have become essential for proper scholarly communication.
Conclusion
Understanding the DOI system strengthens your ability to cite, access, and reference scientific literature accurately. Whether you are writing lab reports, term papers, theses, or research articles, mastering DOI usage in APA, AMA, and MLA formats is a key academic skill for agriculture, veterinary, and research students.
Want to improve your academic writing and referencing skills?
Explore Pedigogy’s Research and Publication Hub for expert-led lessons, citation tools, and writing guides tailored for B.Sc. Agriculture and B.V.Sc. & A.H. students. For more citation and research-writing guides, visit Pedigogy.com’s Research Hub — your trusted platform for research-based academic learning.
Updated on December 9, 2025
