In academic publishing, visibility and permanence are not secondary concerns – they are structural conditions for knowledge to circulate, be cited, and remain accessible over time. One of the key infrastructures that makes this possible is the DOI system.
Our publishing house is a member of Crossref, which allows us to assign DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) to all our publications. DOIs can be assigned to journal articles, books, book chapters, reviews, theses, and other research outputs. This is not merely a technical feature; it is a commitment to long-term accessibility, traceability, and editorial accountability.
What is a DOI, and why does it matter?
A DOI is a permanent alphanumeric identifier assigned to a digital object. Unlike a standard web address (URL), which may change over time, a DOI always points to the same intellectual object, regardless of where it is hosted.
For readers, this means reliable access. For authors, it means stable citations and greater visibility. For editors and publishers, it means participating in a shared infrastructure that allows scholarly communication to be mapped, indexed, and preserved.
By joining Crossref, RPPH commits to correctly identifying all published materials – articles, reviews, books, research reports, and more – and registering them as structured metadata. These records are then disseminated across the web, integrated into indexing systems, and made discoverable through their unique identifiers.
DOI as metadata: why structure matters
A DOI is not just a link; it is embedded within a broader metadata ecosystem. Even if a publication changes its website or hosting platform, the DOI remains attached to the work.
Crossref maintains one of the largest metadata databases in scholarly publishing. Each record follows specific schemas – agreed rules for how information is entered and structured – covering titles, authorship, affiliations, funding, abstracts, references, and access links. Together, these records form a living map of academic research.
In practical terms, metadata are data about data, and without them, research becomes invisible. Discoverability, citation tracking, and long-term preservation all depend on metadata quality.
Some metadata elements are particularly critical:
- Core bibliographic information (title, publication date, contributors, affiliations)
- ORCID iDs, funder identifiers, and award numbers
- Abstracts
- Reference lists
- Links to preprints
- Full-text URLs (for text and data mining)
- License URLs (for text and data mining)
How a DOI should be displayed
Correct DOI display is not optional; it follows established best practices. When showing a DOI, the following rules apply:
- It must always appear as a full URL:
https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx - It must not be preceded by “doi:” or “DOI:”
- The “dx” domain should not be used
- HTTPS is recommended over HTTP
These conventions ensure consistency, interoperability, and proper machine readability across platforms.
Where DOIs should appear
As part of Crossref membership, DOIs must be displayed on the publisher’s landing pages. Beyond this minimum requirement, we strongly recommend displaying DOIs wherever the publication is presented or shared, including:
- Tables of contents
- Abstract pages
- Full-text HTML and PDF articles
- Citation downloads for reference managers
- Metadata feeds to third parties
- “How to cite this” sections
- Social media links
- Any context where users are directed to a stable, permanent version of the content
Using proprietary or internal URLs instead of DOIs in citations, metadata feeds, or author guidelines undermines persistence and should be avoided.
DOIs in references and bibliographies
For journal articles, linking references using Crossref DOIs is a condition of membership. This means that, whenever available, a DOI should be included for each cited work. The same practice is strongly recommended for books and other scholarly content.
Because reference lists can be space-constrained, DOIs may be displayed in different formats depending on editorial style. Two widely accepted options are:
- Using the DOI URL directly as a permanent link:
Soleimani N, Mohabati Mobarez A, Farhangi B. Cloning, expression, and purification of Helicobacter pylori flagellar sheath adhesion in an Escherichia coli host as a vaccination target. Clin Exp Vaccine Res. 2016; 5(1): 19–25. https://doi.org/10.7774/cevr.2016.5.1.19 - Displaying the label “Crossref” linked to the DOI:
Galli, S.J., & Tsai, M. (2010). Mast cells in allergy and infection: versatile effector and regulatory cells in innate and adaptive immunity. Eur. J. Immunol., 40, 1843–1851. Crossref.
In APA style, DOIs must be included for all works that have one. The DOI is placed at the end of the reference and should not be followed by a period.
Example:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume(issue), page range. https://doi.org/10.0000/0000
A final note
Behind every DOI there is an editorial decision: to treat publications as stable contributions to knowledge rather than disposable web content. Assigning, displaying, and maintaining DOIs correctly is part of that responsibility – and one we take seriously.