Both the Handle and the DOI are digital object identification systems that allow you to assign one PURL ("persistent uniform resource locator") in electronic documents (books, journal articles, conference papers, teaching materials, etc.).

The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique and permanent identifier for electronic publications that provides information on the description of digital objects (magazines, articles, etc.), as well as its location on the Internet (using the corresponding metadata).

Unlike the URL system of the web pages, the DOI system  It does not change over time although the article is relocated to a different address. The reason for this permanence is the incorporation of all the information affected in the form of metadata.

The DOI is mainly assigned to academic or scientific publications, such as journal articles, doctoral theses, books, conference papers, research data and other digital publications.
 

The main benefits of the DOI are:

• Locate a document on the web. The DOI identifier link guarantees access to the resource even if the web address has changed.
• Cite and publish documents or scientific resources.
• Share information.
• Browse posts transparently.

The DOI is an alphanumeric code, based on the NISO Z39.84 norm, DOI Syntax, which presents the following structure:

• prefix, to identify the publishing organization. 
• separator "/"
• suffix, to identify the digital object. Flexible structure established by the DOI manager.

Examples: 10.5821/dissertation-2117-407450 

The main advantages offered by the identification of scientific publications through a DOI are:

• Guarantee of a direct and permanent access to the electronic resource
• Increase in the visibility of scientific publications (with the associated increase in citations)
• Identification of the intellectual property of an electronic resource, thanks to the information associated with the corresponding metadata
• Interoperability with other platforms, repositories or search engines

Some recommendations related to the use of DOI are:

• Whenever possible, the DOI identifier must be associated with the corresponding link in the DOI Foundation system.
• Any change in the registered document must be updated in a centralized directory (change of location of the file, modifications of metadata, etc.).
• The DOI obtained in the bibliographical citations of articles and other publications of the University must be used.

The Libraries, Publications and Archives Service has a DOI prefix. Assign and register to CrossRef identifiers to different documents deposited in the institutional repository UPCommons that have been published or participated by the UPC.

Specifically, the assignment and registration is done by:

• Doctoral theses presented at the UPC
• Books published by the UPC
• Articles from magazines published by the university
• Research data
• Conference papers

For more information, contact info.idp@upc.edu