thearchivist.funPersistent identifier
A persistent identifier aims to give an object a stable reference even when its current web address changes. The DOI system is one example. Persistence depends on maintenance and organizational processes, not on a magical string that can never fail. Within a personal archive, assign stable record identifiers and avoid recycling them for unrelated material. Keep aliases when merging records so older citations can still be interpreted. Separate the identifier from the current title and storage path, both of which may change. For external sources, retain a recognized persistent identifier when one exists, along with enough descriptive information to recover the reference if resolution fails. A stable identifier supports continuity; it does not guarantee that the object is accurate, openly accessible, or preserved in full.
Context and provenance
An identifier maintained so that an object can remain referable as locations change.
Sources and evidence
Editorial review: 2026-09-23. New evidence may change this account.