How to use DOI (Digital Object Identifier) to search for articles?

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) serves as a persistent and unique identifier for digital scholarly content, primarily journal articles and book chapters. It enables precise and direct retrieval of the associated publication through dedicated DOI resolvers or integrated search functions within academic databases and library platforms. The key principle involves the DOI being registered in the Handle System, redirecting users to the current URL location stored by the publisher. Essential conditions include a valid, properly formatted DOI and access to a resolver service like doi.org or a participating database. The DOI operates universally across platforms, simplifying citation linking and discovery. Users should ensure the DOI is copied accurately, including its full prefix and suffix, without extraneous characters. Note that DOIs resolve to the publisher's landing page and do not guarantee free access; institutional subscriptions or open access policies dictate availability. To retrieve an article using its DOI, follow these steps. First, locate the article's DOI, typically found in its bibliographic record, citation, PDF header/footer, or a database listing. Second, input the complete DOI string directly into a web browser address bar appending "https://doi.org/" before the DOI (e.g., `https://doi.org/10.1234/abc567`). Alternatively, paste the DOI into the search box of dedicated DOI resolver websites like doi.org, or utilize the specialized DOI search field available in many major academic databases (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed) and library discovery services, which provide the most reliable access. This offers a fast, error-free method to pinpoint a specific digital object compared to keyword searching.