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The same steps, as a list:

1. 1

   Step 1

   A DOI is a permanent identifier for an article, a dataset or another object. Its link keeps working even if the object moves.

   • DOI
2. 2

   Step 2

   It is one kind of persistent identifier. ORCID iD does the same job for people, and ROR for organisations.

   • Persistent identifier
   • ORCID iD
   • ROR
3. 3

   Step 3

   Underneath, every DOI is a Handle. When you open a doi.org link, resolution runs on the Handle System.

   • Handle System
4. 4

   Step 4

   The International DOI Foundation sets the rules of the DOI system and is its registration authority under ISO 26324.

   • International DOI Foundation
5. 5

   Step 5

   You get a DOI through a registration agency. Crossref issues DOIs for scholarly publications, registered by the publisher or journal.

   • Crossref
6. 6

   Step 6

   DataCite issues DOIs mainly for datasets, software and reports. In Chile, Data Observatory and the University of Chile's SISIB lead DataCite consortia.

   • DataCite
7. 7

   Step 7

   There are more agencies, such as mEDRA in Europe and JaLC in Japan. All of them register their DOIs in the same resolution system.

   • mEDRA
   • JaLC
8. 8

   Step 8

   Each DOI is registered with metadata describing the object. The metadata can be corrected later without changing the DOI.

   • Metadata
9. 9

   Step 9

   Because DOIs are stable, services such as OpenCitations use them to link which work cites which.

   • OpenCitations