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What Exactly is a DOI?

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is not just a complicated string of numbers and symbols. It is a persistent identifier given to a digital object—like a journal article, report, or dataset—to give a permanent link to its location on the internet. Think of it as a virtual Social Security number for a scholarly work. When the URL at which the article is stored changes (e.g., the journal changes publishers or redesigns its website), the DOI will always resolve to the correct location. This permanence is what makes it the preferred method for citing electronic sources in APA style.

DOIs typically look like:

• 
  
• Older format: doi:10.1037/arc0000014
  
• Newer, preferred format (a functioning URL): https://doi.org/10.1037/arc0000014
  

APA 7 strongly recommends using the URL format whenever available.

What Regarding URLs?

A Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or web address, is the location to a specific page or file on the World Wide Web. Unlike a DOI, a URL is not stable. Websites are often reorganized, pages are moved, and content is taken down. A URL that works today may be a broken link tomorrow. This impermanence is why DOIs are heavily preferred over URLs for scholarly work. However, for sources that lack a DOI (e.g., online reports from groups, press releases, certain PDFs), you need to use a URL.

The Cardinal Rule: Always Prefer a DOI

The number one rule in APA 7 for citing every electronic source is: If a DOI is available, use it. If no DOI is available, then and only then should you use a URL. Your first step when creating a reference should always be to look for a DOI. They are commonly found:

• 
  
• On the first page of an online journal article, close to the publication information.
  
• In the article's citation/reference data, often provided by the database.
  
• In the database record for the article (e.g., in EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, PubMed).
  
• On the landing page for the article on the publisher's website.
  

You can additionally use a free lookup website like CrossRef to find a DOI by entering the article title or author information.

How to Format DOIs and URLs in Your Reference List

APA 7 introduced major changes to the formatting of DOIs and URLs. The old conventions of using "doi:" or "Retrieved from" have been eliminated.

Formatting a DOI

Present the DOI as a working hyperlink. The preferred format is:

• 
  
• https://doi.org/xxxxx (e.g., https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000345)
  

Never include the label "DOI:" or "doi:" before the number. Simply present the full URL. The hyperlink should be clickable, but it should not be underlined (this is usually the default in word processors). The font color is often blue.

Formatting a URL (When No DOI Exists)

When you must use a URL because no DOI is available, adhere to these rules:

• 
  
• Provide a permanent URL that leads directly to the source. Do not use database URLs (e.g., from EBSCOhost, JSTOR, ProQuest). These are often temporary and require a login, making them useless to most readers.
  
• Use a hyperlink for the URL, just like with a DOI.
  
• Omit the phrases "Retrieved from" or "Accessed from." This is a key change from APA 6. In APA 7, you simply place the URL at the end of the reference without any introductory text.
  

Special Case: The only time you use "Retrieved from" is when you are citing a source that is designed to change over time, such as a Wikipedia article, map, or software. For Https://Ignousynopsis.com static webpages, reports, and articles, omit "Retrieved from."

Practical Examples and Scenarios

Let's look at how these rules apply in real reference entries.

Example 1: Journal Article with a DOI (Most Common)

Reference: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Real Example: Chen, L., & O'Malley, R. (2023). Predicting economic trends using machine learning algorithms. Journal of Economic Forecasting, 45(2), 112-130. https://doi.org/10.1017/jef.2023.12

Note the simple use of the DOI URL at the end, with no additional punctuation or labels.

Example 2: Journal Article without a DOI (From a Journal Website)

If an article from a journal's website has no DOI, link directly to the article on the journal's site.

Reference: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page range. URL

Real Example: Albright, G. (2019). Re-evaluating the Hawthorne effect in modern field studies. Journal of Applied History, 8(1), 45-59. http://www.jah.org/vol8/iss1/albright.html

Example 3: Report or Document from an Organizational Website (No DOI)

This is a common scenario for government and NGO reports.

Reference: Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of report (Report No. XXX). URL

Real Example: World Health Organization. (2021, March 30). WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2021: Addressing new and emerging products. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240032095

Again, note the absence of "Retrieved from."

Example 4: The Exception: A Wiki (Where "Retrieved from" is Used)

For content that changes, you include the retrieval date.

Reference: Title of entry. (Year, Month Day). In Wikipedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

Real Example: Cognitive dissonance. (2023, October 25). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

Pro Tips and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• 
  
• Database URLs are forbidden: Never, ever use the long, session-specific URL from your university library's database. These links are temporary and will not work for anyone else. Always find the DOI or the journal's official URL.
  
• Use a hyperlink: Always make your DOI or URL a live, clickable hyperlink. This is a requirement of APA 7. The default blue, underlined style in programs like Microsoft Word is perfectly acceptable.
  
• No period after the URL: Do not place a period at the end of the DOI or URL. This prevents the period from being accidentally hyperlinked and makes the link easier to copy and paste.
  
• Shorten lengthy URLs with care: If a URL is excessively long and complex, you may use a shortening service like Bitly. However, it is always better to use the most direct and permanent URL possible. A DOI is always preferable to a shortened URL.
  
• Check your links: Before submitting your paper, double-click every single DOI and URL in your reference list to ensure they resolve to the correct source. This is the best way to catch typos.
  

Conclusion

Correctly handling DOIs and URLs is a seemingly small but profoundly important part of APA 7 style. By remembering the golden rule—always prefer a DOI, and only use a URL as a last resort—and by applying the simplified formatting rules (live hyperlinks, no "Retrieved from"), you guarantee that your reference list is not only formally correct but also maximally functional. Your readers will thank you the effortlessness with which they can locate your sources, and your work will display a strong degree of professionalism and attention to detail. In the digital scholarly landscape, providing accurate and stable links is the key act of crediting your sources and allowing the progress of knowledge.