DOI Foundation and Crossref explain identifiers and research updates

The DOI Foundation describes a DOI as a lasting reference to an object or information about it. The identifier can refer to physical, digital or abstract objects, according to the DOI Foundation. A DOI is useful for locating a record, but its presence alone does not establish that the item is a scientific paper. The Foundation explains that identifiers help people keep track of objects over time.

The DOI Foundation says resolving a DOI starts a lookup that redirects a reader to the object it points to. The destination is most often a web page, according to the Foundation, although the documentation also describes database records. The DOI Foundation notes that an identifier can have multiple links behind it and that readers are directed to the appropriate destination. A reader can keep the DOI when saving the record for later reference.

The Crossref Crossmark service provides a separate check on a research record's current status. Crossref explains that participating publishers supply metadata about corrections, retractions and other updates, and place the Crossmark button on web pages and PDFs. Crossref cautions that the button's presence is not a guarantee. A reader checking Crossmark should open any linked notice and examine what changed. Sources: DOI Foundation (https://www.doi.org/the-identifier/what-is-a-doi/) and Crossref (https://www.crossref.org/services/crossmark/).