Resolve the paper's DOI to its publisher landing page and check that page for supplementary files, then look for a linked dataset record before citing anything as a supplement. The DOI Handbook describes resolution as a lookup through the Handle System that returns current information supplied for the identified object, commonly a landing page maintained by the registrant. That landing page is where a publisher typically places files tied to the article, so it is the first place to check when the article itself shows no supplement.
- Resolve the DOI. Enter the article's DOI in a DOI resolver or follow the DOI link from the citation. Expected result: you arrive at the registrant's landing page for that article, not a cached PDF.
- Scan the landing page for supplementary material. Look for sections or tabs labeled as supplementary, supporting, or additional information, and open each file to confirm it belongs to this article. Expected result: you either find the files or confirm the page lists none.
- Check for a linked dataset record. If the page points to a separate dataset DOI, open that record and read its metadata. The DataCite REST API guide notes that DataCite exposes DOI metadata and supports queries and filters for works, repositories, providers, clients, and related entities, so a dataset DOI can be looked up directly if the landing page links to one.
- Decide how to cite. If your journal requires supplements to be cited separately, cite the supplement or dataset as its own entry. Citing Medicine provides structured examples and rules for citing journal articles, databases, datasets, and other publication types, which you can follow for the format.
If the landing page shows no supplement and no linked dataset, the location of the materials remains unresolved from that page; check the article PDF and any repository named in the article's data availability statement before concluding the materials do not exist.