Glossary

This section contains terms which are relevant to the document content. The terms marked * are as specified in ISO 26324.

actionable

Capable of resolution by a system on the Internet, e.g. in an Internet Web browser, an actionable identifier can be "clicked on" and some action takes place.

allowed value*

An item which may be used as a value of an element.

API

Application Programming Interface. A way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build or use such a connection or interface is called an API specification. A computer system that meets this standard is said to implement or expose an API. The term API may refer either to the specification or to the implementation.

Data Dictionary*

A repository for all data elements and allowed values of those elements used in DOI metadata declarations.

Digital Object. A sequence of bits, or a set of sequences of bits, that is used to represent a digital, physical or virtual entity in the Digital Object Architecture (DOA).

DOI Directory

A virtual service consisting of Handle System services and web proxies located and configured to provide highly reliable resolution, administration, and backup for all DOI names.

DOI metadata

Metadata associated with a referent within the DOI System, based on a structured data model that supports unambiguous description and services.

DOI name*

A string that identifies a unique object within the DOI System.

DOI Proxy

A web server that understands the Handle System protocol (DO-IRP), thereby acting as a gateway between the DOI System and HTTPS, enabling resolution of a DOI name in the URL https:// syntax. Any standard browser encountering a DOI name represented in this form will be able to resolve it without the need to extend the web browsers capability.

DOI record

The set of elements to which a DOI name can be resolved.

DOI syntax*

Rules for the form and sequence of characters comprising any DOI name, specifically the form and character of a prefix element, separator and suffix element.

DOI System*

Social and technical infrastructure for the assignment and administration of DOI names as identifiers in computer-readable form through assignment, resolution, referent description, administration, etc.

GHR®

Global Handle Registry. A component of the Handle System which provides first-level resolution of Handles. Stores the information necessary to locate the LHS responsible for any Handle in the system.

Handle

Actionable identifier concept underlying the Handle System.

Handle System®

The technology used as the resolution component of the DOI system. The Handle System is a general-purpose distributed information system designed to provide an efficient, extensible, and secured global name service for use on networks such as the Internet. The Handle System is a particular implementation of the DO-IRP (Digital Object - Identifier / Resolution Protocol) which is part of the Digital Object Architecture (DOA).

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol. An application layer protocol in the Internet protocol suite model for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web, where hypertext documents include hyperlinks to other resources that the user can easily access, for example by a mouse click or by tapping the screen in a web browser.

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. An extension of HTTP. It is used for secure communication over a computer network, and is widely used on the Internet. In HTTPS, the communication protocol is encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or, formerly, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

INDECS

INteroperability of Data in E-Commerce Systems. A project, set of principles, and tools, resulting in a framework, derived from a multi-participant project conducted 1998-2000. Provides the analytical basis for the DOI System's approach to metadata.

interoperability*

Ability of independent systems to exchange meaningful information and initiate actions from each other, in order to operate together to mutual benefit.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Standards setting organisation with National Standards Bodies as members which publishes international standards and other documents.

ISO 26324

ISO 26324 Information and documentation — Digital object identifier system. The international standard published by ISO which specifies the DOI System. The 2022 document is the second edition and revises the original document published in 2012.

Kernel metadata

A compulsory, small standardized set of metadata elements assigned to each DOI name.

LHS

Local Handle Service. A component of the Handle System which provides resolution and administration services for Handles belonging to a given namespace.

Linked Data

Structured data which is interlinked with other data so it becomes more useful through semantic queries. It builds upon standard Web technologies such as HTTP, RDF and URIs, but rather than using them to serve web pages only for human readers, it extends them to share information in a way that can be read automatically by computers.

metadata*

Specific data associated with a referent within the DOI System based on a structured data model that enables the referent of the DOI name to be associated with data of any desired degree of precision and granularity to support identification, description and services.

multiple resolution

Resolution of a DOI name returning multiple resources.

opaque string*

Syntax string that has no meaning discernible by simple inspection. (To discover meaning, metadata is required.)

persistence*

Existing, and able to be used in services outside the direct control of the issuing assigner, without a stated time limit.

Registration Agency. An RA provides DOI-based services to one or several communities of users. An RA can be considered as a module of the DOI System, serving a constituency.

RDF

Resource Description Framework. A World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standard originally designed as a data model for metadata. It has come to be used as a general method for description and exchange of graph data.

RDF / XML

A syntax defined by the W3C to express (serialize) an RDF graph as an XML document.

referent*

Entity identified by a DOI name.

registrant

Owner of the referent. The registrant provides and maintains the metadata assigned to the DOI name. They may also assign the DOI name suffix.

registration authority

Entity appointed by ISO to manage the allocation of names to codes under the auspices of an international standard. A registration authority agreement between ISO and the registration authority sets out the obligations and responsibilities of each.

resolution*

Process of submitting a DOI name to a network service and receiving in return one or more pieces of current information related to the identified object such as a location (URL) of the object or an email address, etc.

REST

REpresentational State Transfer. An architectural style that defines a set of constraints to be used for creating web services. REST API is a way of accessing web services in a simple and flexible way.

single resolution

Resolution of a DOI name returning a single URL.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. Colloquially termed a web address, is a reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network and a mechanism for retrieving it. URLs occur most commonly to reference web pages but are also used for file transfer, email, database access, and many other applications.