Create and manage DOIs for datasets, preprints, or research outputs with the DataCite REST API
domain: api.datacite.org · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
Sampled — shipped under file-level sampling, not individually fact-checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Steps
Use the Public API (no authentication) at api.datacite.org to retrieve, search, and browse existing DOI metadata records in JSON:API format.
To create or update DOIs, authenticate with a DataCite Repository (Member) account and follow the JSON:API document structure in the Creating DOIs guide.
Develop and test entirely against the separate test environment (api.test.datacite.org) before touching production -- test and production use completely separate accounts and credentials.
Use PUT to fully or partially update a DOI's metadata attributes once registered.
Only move to the production endpoint (api.datacite.org) after validating the full create/update flow in test.
Known gotchas
Test and production DataCite environments are completely isolated -- DOIs and credentials from one never carry over to the other.
Creating or updating DOIs requires an approved DataCite Repository account; the Public API alone is read-only.
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