Glossary: Persistent Links and Durable/Permanent/Stable URLs

 

Persistent links, also called "durable URLs", "stable URLs", or "permanent URLs", are links to online documents that can take you back to that specific document later on. A DOI is one type of persistent link, used widely in academic publishing.

When you search a database and arrive at a document, the URL that appears in the address bar often expires and won't be useful later on. Always look for a persistent link to be able to return to the document.

Our Database Information pages provide information on finding persistent links, when possible. Find these pages by clicking on the Persistant link information beside each database listed in the Directory of Online Databases.