APA Style: Home

DOI is a digital object identifier

The DOI is a a web address linked to the publisher information of the article or book chapter. This is more stable than using a link from a database. A group of publishers, Publishers Linking International Association (PILA) formed the CrossRef depository as a collaborative linking system. To find more information go to https://www.apa.org/pubs/librarians/industry/crossref

To find a DOI for a publication you can use the CrossRef website: https://www.crossref.org/

A simple way to do so is to use the Search Metadata search and enter the title of the article. Then you can check for the matching item. 

Here's a quick list of some of the major changes from the 6th edition to the 7th edition of the APA Manual:

• Samples for professional papers, student papers, and annotated bibliographies are now included

• Running head and author note is no longer included in student papers

• One space (not two) should be used after a period

• Publisher location no longer required for book citations

• With three or more authors, abbreviate "et al." the first time you present the work in in-text citations, as opposed to writing all authors the first time and using "et al." subsequent times.

• For a general mention of a website with no indication of specific page, no reference list or in-text citation is needed.

• In your reference list, write out up to 20 author names as opposed to 7 authors maximum.  For 21 authors or more, use ellipses.

• Present both DOIs and URLS as hyperlinks, and do not insert "Retrieved from" before a hyperlink.

• More citation examples are included for social media, apps, media, and other non-traditional sources.

For more help, see these links below: