Citation Help and Style Guide

A DOI is a digital identifier of an object, made up of letters, numbers, and forward slashes--such as https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-07-2020-0148. The DOI provides a permanent, stable link to the resource.

What is the difference between a DOI and an URL?

• Authors or agencies pay a registry to receive a DOI, and once assigned, the DOI will not change. The DOI will always refer to the same entity no matter where on the web that document is found. Think of a DOI like a social security number for the article you're citing — it will always refer to that article, and only that one.
• A URL denotes a place on the web where a document can be found. URLs can change if the website is edited or updated, or the source is moved. Because of this, many online databases (such as library websites and scholarly article repositories) assign sources with stable URLs (sometimes called “permalinks”) unique to the database’s own website for this purpose. Like DOIs, these will not change and will link directly to the source on that specific webpage. 

The URL (Uniform Resource Locator or web address) that appears in a browser's address box when an online article is viewed is usually intended to be temporary and often does not function a few days or weeks later. Links designated as "permanent", "persistent," or "stable" are designed specifically to remain active and useable over time. If an article has not been assigned a DOI, many citation styles require that you use a permanent link so that other users can find and view the article. 

Permalinks can be found most article databases, and in CatSearch:

If your resource items does not have a DOI or a provided permalink, you can create one, For information on creating a permalink, visit the FAQ: How can I create a permalink to an article?  Or, reach out to a librarian for help.