A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique alphanumeric string that is used to identify and provide a persistent link to digital objects, such as research articles, datasets, and other types of scholarly content. The main purpose of a DOI is to ensure that digital objects can be easily located and accessed, even if the original URL for the object changes.

A DOI is assigned to a digital object by a registration agency, such as the International DOI Foundation (IDF). The DOI registration process involves assigning a unique alphanumeric string to the object, along with metadata that describes the object, such as the title, authors, and publication date. Once the DOI has been assigned, it remains unchanged even if the object is moved to a different location, so it can be used as a permanent link to the object.

When an article is published in a journal, it is given a unique DOI number, this number is used to identify the article and make it easy to find. DOI is commonly used in academic journals to cite a particular article. DOI is also useful for researcher, libraries, publishers, and information professionals, as it allows for easy identification and retrieval of digital objects.

DOI is important as it ensures that digital objects can be accessed even if the original URL is no longer available. This is important because it ensures that scholarly content remains accessible over time. It also makes it easy to locate and access research articles, datasets and other types of scholarly content, which is important for the ongoing advancement of knowledge in a particular field.

In addition to its persistent linking capabilities, DOIs also provide other benefits such as tracking and reporting capabilities. DOI registration agencies track and report on usage statistics for the objects they register, providing valuable information about the reach and impact of scholarly content. This information can be used by researchers, publishers, and institutions to understand the impact of their work and make informed decisions about future research and publishing efforts.

In short, DOI is a unique identification code for scholarly works, which allows for easy location and access to the work even if the original URL changes. It also has tracking and reporting capabilities, which provide valuable information about the reach and impact of scholarly content. This helps researchers, publishers and institutions to understand the impact of their work and make informed decisions about future research and publishing efforts.