DOI, URN & Co.

Permanent addresses through Persistent Identifier

The use of a persistent identifier enables the stable, globally unique and location-independent referencing of electronic documents and thus offers citation security even if the Internet address changes. Therefore, persistent identifiers are suitable for permanently secured citation in scientific works.

There are different types of persistent identifiers. The two identifier types most commonly used in Germany are URN (Uniform Resource Name) and DOI (Digital Object Identifier).

URN — Uniform Resource Name

Allocation is handled by a registration agency (in Germany, the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main). It determines basic procedures and the resolving mechanism as part of a cooperatively managed, higher-level administration. The mechanism ensures the forwarding from the URN to a valid address (URL) and thus the permanent referencing.

Example:
A Shakespearean Constellation: J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps and Friends / von Marvin Spevack.
Münster : Monsenstein und Vannerdat, 2013.
urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-28309453353

Explanation:
nbn:de:hbz:6 designates the reserved namespace,
28309453353 is the document specific number.

To open the cited object in a browser, the URN must be preceded by the address of a resolver, e.g.:
http://nbn-resolving.org.
Consequently, the full Internet address where you can access the cited book is:
http://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-28309453353.

DOI — Digital Object Identifier

A DOI consists of any alphanumeric character string divided into two parts (a prefix and a suffix) and assigned by special registration agencies. Among other things, the Internet address (URL) under which the document can be found is stored for each DOI. Even if the URL changes, the DOI remains the same.

Example:
Rose, Patrick; Boguslawski, Martin; Denz, Cornelia: Nonlinear lattice structures based on families of complex nondiffracting beams. New Journal of Physics; 2012, Vol. 14, 033018.
doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/14/3/03301

Explanation:
10 says that this string is a DOI,
1088 identifies the publisher,
1367-2630/14/3/033018 is the document specific number.

To open the cited object in a browser, the DOI must be preceded by the address of a resolver, e.g.:
https://doi.org.
The full web address where you can access the cited article is consequently:
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/14/3/033018.

Which identifiers does the repository miami use?

All objects stored on the publication server miami are assigned a so-called URN (Uniform Resource Name). In addition, each document receives a DOI (Digital Object Identifier).

How should a digital document be cited?

URNs or DOIs cannot be accessed directly via browser, but must be translated into a URL using a so-called resolver. If you would like to cite a digital document from miami, please enter the displayed URN or DOI as well as the address composed of the resolver and the URN or DOI in the following form (example):

urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-85659524771
http://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-85659524771
doi:10.1186/1472-6920-11-8
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-11-8

Can I reserve a URN/DOI before the release in miami?

If, for example, you would like to indicate in the digital document where it will soon be available online, we recommend that you reserve an URN or DOI in advance.
Please contact the Service Point for Publications.