Direct comparison
DOI vs Handle — what is the difference?
DOIs and Handles are both persistent identifier systems for digital resources. DOI is built on top of the Handle System — every DOI is also a Handle, but not every Handle is a DOI.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | DOI | Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 1998 | 1994 |
| Governance | International DOI Foundation; ISO 26324:2022 | CNRI; later DONA Foundation |
| Format example | 10.1234/abc.123 | 20.500.12345/abc.123 |
| Resolver URL prefix | https://doi.org/... | https://hdl.handle.net/... |
| Underlying tech | Built on the Handle System | Handle System (CNRI/DONA) |
| Issued by | Registration Agencies (Crossref, DataCite, mEDRA, EIDR, ISTIC, KISTI, MEDRA, AIPS, OP, ENS) | Any institution running a Handle server with a registered prefix |
| Metadata standard | Per-RA (Crossref schema, DataCite metadata schema, etc.) | Free-form; no required schema |
| Resolution | Global, via doi.org | Global, via hdl.handle.net |
| Cost to mint | Per-DOI fee paid by registering org | Free after Handle prefix purchase |
| Typical use | Journal articles, datasets, software releases | Institutional repositories, archives, ETD systems |
Common questions
FAQ
Why use a DOI over a raw Handle?+
Governance, persistent metadata standards, broader recognition, and citation-graph integration (Crossref Cited-by, Scite, OpenAlex). Raw Handles work but lack the registration-agency layer.
Are DOIs free for researchers?+
Yes — researchers don't pay. The registering organisation (publisher, repository) pays the Crossref or DataCite registration fee.
Can the same resource have a DOI and a Handle?+
Technically yes, but it's usually one or the other. If both, the DOI is canonical.
