Resursidentifiering

Resursidentifiering is the process of assigning a unique and persistent identifier to a digital or physical resource. This identifier allows for the unambiguous retrieval, citation, and management of the resource over time, even if its location or other metadata changes. The goal of resursidentifiering is to ensure that a resource can be found and accessed reliably, regardless of the platform or system it resides on.

Common examples of resursidentifiering systems include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), which are widely used for academic publications, and Uniform Resource Names (URNs), which are designed for persistent identification of internet resources. Other systems may be specific to particular institutions or domains, such as internal catalog numbers for library materials or unique identifiers for datasets within a research project.

The effectiveness of resursidentifiering relies on several key principles. The identifier must be unique, meaning no two resources share the same identifier. It must be persistent, meaning it will remain valid for the lifetime of the resource. Furthermore, there should be a mechanism to resolve the identifier, translating it into a location or a set of metadata that allows access to the resource. This resolution service is crucial for the identifier to be useful.

Resursidentifiering plays a vital role in digital preservation, scholarly communication, and data management. By providing stable links to resources, it facilitates the sharing of information, supports the reproducibility of research, and helps prevent link rot, where links to online resources become broken over time.