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The DOI prefix refers to the DOI namespace (a namespace is allocated to a given service provider):  see DOI Namespace Allocation Approach.

The DOI prefix is <directoryIndicator>.<registrantCode>.

The following rules apply:

•The directory indicator can contain only numeric values. The directory indicator is usually 10 but other indicators may be designated as compliant by the DOI Foundation.

•The registrant code can contain only numeric values and one or several full stops which are used to subdivide the code. For example: 10.1000, 10.500.100, etc.
If the directory indicator is 10 then a registrant code is mandatory.