Identifier Pattern

Signposting the Scholarly Web

To help machines discover the persistent identifier of a scholarly object, use the cite-as link relation type to link from the object's landing page to the URI that persistently identifies the object. Object identifiers that are conveyed on links with the cite-as relation type should be HTTP URIs chosen from namespaces that are widely supported by the community, such as DOI, handle, and ark but could also be HTTP URIs that are pro-actively kept persistent by the custodians of the objects they identify.

The below examples illustrate the use of cite-as links in the HTTP Link header of HTML landing pages. But cite-as links can also be provided in that page's HTML link element and/or in a Link Set that is discoverable from the landing page.

Identifier Scenarios

  • Landing Page ➞ Persistent Identifier URI

    Provide a link to the persistent identifier of the scholarly object from its landing page. The persistent identifier is the HTTP URI rendering of a DOI, handle, URN NBN, or an HTTP URI that is pro-actively kept persistent by the custodian of the scholarly object.
    Example 1 »   Example 2 »   Example 3 »   Example 4 »

  • Landing Page (which is a Content Resource) ➞ Persistent Identifier URI

    Provide a link to the persistent identifier of the scholarly object from its landing page, which is an HTML rendering of an article.
    Example »