Waggoner Library: APA Citation Style: DOIs or URLs

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Introduction

00:43 What are URLs and DOIs?

1:15 DOIs explained

2:22 URLs explained

3:30 Three tools to make your life easier

DOIs or URLs

DOI or URLs

This page addresses when to include digital object identifiers (DOIs) and uniform resource locators (URLs) in APA 7th ed. references. The information below comes from the APA 7th Ed. Style Blog

What is the DOI or URL?

The DOI or URL is the final component of a reference list entry.

A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies content and provides a persistent link to its location on the internet. DOIs can be found in database records and reference lists of published works.
A URL specifies the location of digital information on the internet and can be found in the address bar of your internet browser. URLs in references should link directly to the cited work when possible.

When should you use the DOI?

Include a DOI for all works that have a DOI, regardless of whether you used the online version or the print version.
If a print work does not have a DOI, do NOT include any DOI or URL in the reference.
If you have both a DOI and a URL, only use the DOI number.
If an online work has a URL but no DOI, include the URL in the reference as follows:
For works without DOIs from most academic research databases (library databases), do not include a URL or database information in the reference because these works are widely available. The reference should be the same as the reference for a print version of the work.

How do you find a DOI number?

Most citations include the DOI, but in many cases, you will need to investigate whether there is a DOI associated with the article. Here are some ways you can do that.

The document PDF typically includes the DOI if there is one.
CrossRef.org - crossref.org provides a DOI Lookup service that will search for a DOI based on citation information (author's last name, journal name, article title, etc.).
Google the article title - searching for an article title in Google (the search engine). If the article appears in the search results, these options publish the DOI if available:
- Look for a link to the publisher's website, e.g., Sage or Elsevier.
- A link to an open source research site, e.g., ResearchGate.net or SemanticScholar.org

DOIs and URLs: When to use and when not to use
The video linked above gives you more information about the DOI number, how to find a DOI number, and when to use it or a URL in APA 7 formatting. It was created in Canva. At 6min 07sec begins a section showing you how to find a DOI number if one is not included in the citation generator.

The following information has been taken directly from the DOI or URLS: The APA Style Blog, 7th ed.

Format of DOIs and URLs

Follow these APA 7 guidelines to format DOIs and URLs:

Present both DOIs and URLs as hyperlinks (i.e., beginning with "http:" or "https:").
Because a hyperlink leads readers directly to the content, it is not necessary to include the words “Retrieved from” or “Accessed from" before a DOI or URL.
It is acceptable to use either the default display settings for hyperlinks in your word-processing program (e.g., usually blue font, underlined) or plain text that is not underlined.
Leave links live if the work is to be published or read online.
Follow the current recommendations of the International DOI Foundation to format DOIs in the reference list, which as of this publication, is as follows:
- https://doi.org/xxxxx
The string “https://doi.org/” is a way of presenting a DOI as a link, and “xxxxx” refers to the DOI number.
The preferred format of the DOI has changed over time. Although older works use previous formats (e.g., “http:/dx.doi.org/” or “doi:” or “DOI:” before the DOI number), in your reference list, standardize DOIs into the currently preferred format for all entries. For example, use https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040251 in your reference even though that article, published in 2016, presented the number in an older format.
Copy and paste the DOI or URL from your web browser directly into your reference list to avoid transcription errors. Do not change the capitalization or punctuation of the DOI or URL. Do not add line breaks manually to the hyperlink; it is acceptable if your word-processing program automatically adds a break or moves the hyperlink to its own line.
Do not add a period after the DOI or URL because this may interfere with link functionality

DOI and URL shorteners

When a DOI or URL is long or complex, you may use short DOIs or shortened URLs if desired.

Use the short DOI service provided by the International DOI Foundation to create short DOIs. A work can have only one DOI and only one short DOI; the short DOI service will either produce a new short DOI for a work that has never had one or retrieve an existing short DOI.
Some websites provide their own branded shortened URLs, and independent URL shortening services are available as well. Any shortened URL is acceptable in a reference as long as you check the link to ensure that it takes you to the correct location.

The correct format for the DOI

Includes the http:// or https:// and should be hyperlinked.