publicidentifier

PublicIdentifier is a term that refers to a unique, publicly accessible identifier assigned to a resource or entity. These identifiers are designed to be persistent and resolvable, meaning they can be consistently used to locate and access the associated information over time. The concept is crucial in areas like digital libraries, scholarly communication, and data management, where ensuring that a specific item can always be found is paramount.

Unlike temporary or internal identifiers, public identifiers are intended for use by anyone, anywhere, without requiring special permissions or access to proprietary systems. They facilitate interoperability and data sharing by providing a common reference point. Examples of public identifiers include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for academic publications, Uniform Resource Names (URNs) for persistent identification of information resources, and International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) for books. The development and adoption of public identifier systems aim to overcome challenges related to broken links, disappearing content, and the difficulty of citing digital materials accurately and reliably. They are a fundamental component of building robust and enduring information infrastructures.