This is a growing, curated collection of publicly available training materials, handbooks, cookbooks, documentation, and guides focused on persistent identifiers (PIDs) — both in general and for specific PID systems and providers.
The resources originate from various institutions and initiatives and are not maintained by us. As a work in progress, this overview will evolve to reflect the needs of the NFDI research communities. Suggestions are welcome.
🧭 Introductions, Overview & PID Ecosystem
Fundamentals, significance, and an overview of the PID ecosystem. Includes beginner-friendly introductions, insights into governance and policy, and resources for understanding the conceptual role of PIDs in research infrastructure. Also covers tools and guides for selecting the right PID system.
Whether you are new to the world of persistent identifiers or just in need of a basic PID refresher, this introductory session is for you! We'll explain what a persistent identifier is, what they can do, and why they matter.
DOIORCIDRORRAiD
Authors:
Alice Meadows, Helena Cousijn, Maria Gould, Ginny Hendricks, Julie Petro, & Natasha Simons
Persistent identifiers (PIDs) – for people (researchers), places (their organizations) and things (their research outputs and other contributions) – are foundational elements in the overall research information infrastructure.
This slide deck from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information provides a comprehensive introduction to the role of persistent identifiers (PIDs) across the research lifecycle.
United States Department of Energy: Washington D.C., US, https://ror.org/01bj3aw27
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent
Duration:
Video: 35:08, PDF Slides: 30
License:
CC-BY-3.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what persistent identifiers (PIDs) are and why they matter. Recognize key PID types (DOIs, ORCID iDs, ROR IDs). See how PIDs support the research lifecycle and FAIR practices. Gain a basic overview of DOE/OSTI PID services for data, software, awards, people, and organizations. Understand how connecting PIDs improves metadata and research visibility.
As part of the DARIAH Friday Frontiers in-house webinar series, Dr. Tibor Kálman (GWDG) gives an introduction to Persistent Identifiers. Why do we need them, how do we apply them, and how do (digital) humanities benefit?
DataCite DOIORCIDPIDInstePIC handleRORB2Inst
Authors:
Kálman, Tibor
Organisation:
DARIAH-Campus
Proficiency Level:
advanced beginner, competent
Duration:
Video: 47:39
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what is meant by Persistent Identifier (PID). Recognise how they can be used to improve accessibility and openness of (digital) humanities and arts data and research outputs.
This introductory slide deck from Bodleian iSkills (University of Oxford) explains what persistent identifiers (PIDs) are, why they matter, and how they help solve problems of ambiguity in research outputs.
Understand the basic concept and purpose of persistent identifiers. Recognize key PID types used in research (DOIs, ORCID, ROR). See how PIDs solve disambiguation challenges and support reliable metadata. Gain an overview of PID workflows and integrations in practice. Become aware of national PID strategies and initiatives in the UK.
This web page by the CERN Scientific Information Service (SIS) defines persistent identifiers (PIDs) and explains their importance, the major types (for objects, people, grants, organisations) and how to obtain them.
DataCite DOIORCIDCrossref DOIRORARKhandleURN
Organisation:
CERN
Learning Outcomes:
Grasp what persistent identifiers (PIDs) are and why they matter. Recognise the key categories of PIDs (objects, people, grants, organisations). Identify typical PID systems (DOI, ORCID, ROR, ISBN/ISSN). Understand how to obtain relevant PIDs in a research workflow.
This webpage from the portal forschungsdaten.info explains the concept of persistent identifiers (PIDs) in the context of publishing and archiving research data. It defines what a PID is, gives an overview of common systems, and explains how PIDs are assigned.
DataCite DOIURNORCIDRORGND
Organisation:
Baden-Württembergischen Landesinitiative für Forschungsdatenmanagement bwFDM, Universität Konstanz
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner
License:
CC0-1.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what a persistent identifier (PID) is and why it is needed. Recognise key PID systems for research outputs, people, and institutions. Comprehend how PIDs enhance the findability, citability and reuse of research data. Gain insight into structural elements and workflow requirements for assigning PIDs.
In diesem Video "Was sind persistente Identifikatoren (PIDs)?" wird auf eine humorvolle und zugängliche Weise erklärt, was genau PIDs sind und welche Relevanz sie in der Forschungswelt haben.
Authors:
Agniashvili, Ana (Editor), Adlung, Robin (Editor), Schmidt, Diana (Editor), Kanaki, Elisavet (Editor)
Organisation:
Forschungsdatenmanagement Niedersachsen (FDM-NDS); HAWK Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
Workshop slides on the structure and governance of the PID ecosystem.
DataCite DOIORCIDPIDInstePIC handleRAiDSWHID
Authors:
Wim, Hugo; van Horik, René
Organisation:
DANS (https://ror.org/008pnp284)
Proficiency Level:
competent, proficient, advanced beginner
Duration:
21 slides
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
To understand the role of PIDs in the research workflow. To get an overview of the PID ecosystem. To get informed on how the quality of a PID policy can be assessed.
Collection of strategic contributions and implementation plans for PIDs within the EOSC context. Covers establishment of coordination mechanisms for PID service providers, alignment with EOSC PID policy, and roadmap contributions from major PID providers.
The "PID Guide" is an interactive web-based tool developed by the Netherlands Digital Heritage network (NDE). It helps organisations select the most appropriate persistent identifier (PID) system by guiding them through a series of structured questions.
DataCite DOIePIC handlehandleARKURN
Organisation:
Digital Heritage Network Netherlands
License:
CC0-1.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand key decision-factors when choosing a PID system. Recognise major PID systems (ARK, Handle, DOI, URN:NBN) and how they differ. Be able to assess their organisation's needs and filter PID options accordingly.
The game gives an impression of the research data landscape and was specially produced for the 15th anniversary of DANS. The 2024 updated version covers current RDM topics including persistent identifiers.
The PID Services Registry provides an overview of services related to Persistent Identifiers (PIDs). Maintained by DataCite and originally developed within the FREYA project, it describes PID service providers using structured metadata and assigns a DOI to each registered service.
DataCite DOIORCIDCrossref DOIURNRORRAiDHandle
Organisation:
DataCite (developed within the FREYA project)
Proficiency Level:
competent, proficient, expert
Target Group:
repository managers, infrastructure managers, research data managers
Learning Outcomes:
Discover and compare PID service providers across the global PID landscape. Assess governance models, technical scope, and service characteristics. Support informed strategic decision-making when selecting PID infrastructures.
Training materials, documentation, and practical guides focused on Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and DataCite services. Covers metadata schemas, registration workflows, the Fabrica interface, APIs, and best practices for DOI management.
The "Getting Started" guide from DataCite provides new members and repositories with a clear, step-by-step introduction to registering DOIs: setting up accounts, creating DOI prefixes, using the Fabrica interface, and working with the API.
DataCite DOIRAiDIGSN
Organisation:
DataCite
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand how to set up a DataCite account and select the appropriate membership and repository type. Know how to register their first DOI using the Fabrica web interface or REST/MDS APIs. Be aware of metadata requirements, DOI prefix structure and best practices for landing pages.
The DataCite Training portal provides a comprehensive set of training modules designed for DataCite Members, Consortium Organisations and Repositories. Covers metadata, the Fabrica interface, Commons, and APIs.
DataCite DOIRAiDIGSN
Organisation:
DataCite
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient
Duration:
6 videos of various length plus supplementary material
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the foundational metadata schema and workflows of DataCite. Gain practical skills in using Fabrica to create, update and manage DOIs. Learn how to use DataCite Commons. Be able to work with DataCite's APIs (REST, GraphQL, OAI-PMH) for automating DOI and metadata workflows.
This comprehensive manual from TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology provides detailed guidance on how to use DataCite Fabrica, the metadata registration tool for DataCite DOIs.
DataCite DOI
Authors:
Taller, Nelli et al.
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent
Learning Outcomes:
Understand how DataCite Fabrica supports the registration and management of DOIs and their metadata. Know how to assign prefixes, register new DOIs, update metadata, and monitor statuses in Fabrica.
The DataCite Best Practice Guide provides a comprehensive, practical handbook for implementing the official DataCite Metadata Schema (v4.6). Designed primarily as support documentation for researchers, data stewards, and repository managers.
DataCite DOI
Authors:
Bayer, C., Frech, A., Gabriel, V., Kümmet, S., Lücke, S., Meier, L., Munke, J., Putnings, M., Rohrwild, J., Schulz, J., Spenger, M., & Weber, T.
Organisation:
IT-Gruppe Geisteswissenschaften (LMU); Leibniz Supercomputing Centre; Universitätsbibliothek der FAU; Universitätsbibliothek der LMU München
Practical open-source web tool for generating DataCite-compliant XML metadata files. Updated to support DataCite Metadata Schema version 4.6. Features include direct links to the DataCite Best Practice Guide and ability to import existing XML files.
DataCite DOI
Organisation:
Digital Humanities Virtual Laboratory (DHVLab), LMU Munich
Proficiency Level:
advanced beginner, competent, proficient
Target Group:
data stewards, repository managers, researchers, research data managers
Learning Outcomes:
Create DataCite-compliant metadata records following current schema standards. Generate valid XML files ready for DOI registration via DataCite. Import and update existing metadata records for iterative refinement.
This workshop slide deck from the 7th DINI/nestor Workshop provides a practical introduction to persistent identifiers with a focus on DOIs and ePIC handles. It explains the underlying Handle System and registration workflows.
Understand the differences and shared foundations of ePIC handles and DataCite DOIs. Gain insight into how PIDs are created, resolved, and maintained using the Handle System. Recognize when to use ePIC vs. DOI in research workflows.
This checklist provides practical guidance for improving a researcher's digital presence using persistent identifiers such as ORCID and DOIs. It outlines best practices for connecting publications, datasets, and software outputs.
DataCite DOIORCID
Authors:
Stall, Shelley et al.
Duration:
2 slides
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand how ORCID and DOIs help increase visibility and attribution for research outputs. Know how to connect publications, datasets, and software to their ORCID record. Recognize best practices for depositing data and software using PIDs and open licenses.
This slide deck from the ZB MED workshop introduces the fundamentals of persistent identifiers (PIDs) in a research-data context with a focus on life sciences and biomedical research.
DataCite DOICrossref DOIORCIDIGSN
Authors:
Justine Vandendorpe, Birte Lindstädt, Aliaksandra Shutsko & Katharina Markus
Organisation:
ZB Med
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the role of persistent identifiers (PIDs) in the lifecycle of research data. Recognise how DOIs are assigned to research data and what metadata standards apply. Identify best practices for referencing and citing data in the life sciences domain.
Resources focused on persistent identifiers for people and organisations. ORCID provides unique identifiers for researchers; ROR (Research Organization Registry) does the same for research institutions.
The ORCID Video Tutorials page provides a library of short guidance videos aimed at helping researchers create and manage their ORCID iD. Covers registration, profile setup, linking publications, and best practices.
ORCID
Organisation:
ORCID
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what an ORCID iD is and why it is important for researchers. Know how to register for an ORCID iD and set up their profile. Learn how to use their ORCID iD to link publications and research outputs.
The "ROR Basics" guide explains what the ROR identifier system is, how it works, and how it supports open scholarly infrastructure. ROR provides persistent identifiers for research organisations.
ROR
Organisation:
ROR
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what a ROR ID is and how it differs from other persistent identifiers. Know how to access, search and use the ROR registry (UI, REST API, data dump). Appreciate how ROR integrates with other systems (e.g., ORCID, Crossref, DataCite).
Technical documentation, tutorials, and hands-on guides for Handle-based identifier systems (ePIC, generic handles) and ARK (Archival Resource Key) identifiers. Aimed at infrastructure operators, repository managers, and technically oriented users who need to implement or work with these PID systems programmatically.
The ePIC Documentation site provides developer- and institution-oriented guidance on using the ePIC API to register and manage persistent identifiers via the ePIC service. Covers API endpoints, authentication, and workflows.
ePIC handle
Proficiency Level:
competent, proficient, expert
Learning Outcomes:
Know how to use the ePIC API to create, resolve, update and manage PIDs programmatically. Recognise the metadata and operational requirements for ePIC PIDs. Be able to evaluate how to integrate ePIC PID services into institutional workflows.
This manual from the EUDAT training repository introduces how to work with persistent identifiers using command-line tools (cURL) in the context of the B2SAFE/B2STAGE services. Covers API endpoints, PID registration, metadata querying.
Understand how to interact with PID services programmatically using cURL commands. Recognise typical API endpoints for PID registration, metadata querying and updates.
This training module provides instructions on how to deploy B2SAFE and B2STAGE and how to use these services. Includes hands-on training on Persistent Identifiers in the EUDAT infrastructure context.
A comprehensive 3-hour tutorial introducing ARK persistent identifiers, covering why ARKs are used, use cases from major institutions, metadata for object development and persistence, minting and assigning ARKs.
ARK
Authors:
John Kunze, Donny Winston
Organisation:
ARK Alliance
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent
Duration:
3 hours (180 minutes)
Learning Outcomes:
Understanding ARK identifiers, ability to create and manage ARKs, understanding ARK metadata vocabulary, practical experience with ARK registration.
A 30-minute introduction to ARK persistent identifiers, explaining what they are, how to use them, and their benefits for decentralized identifier management.
ARK
Authors:
John Kunze, Donny Winston
Organisation:
ARK Alliance
Duration:
30 minutes
Learning Outcomes:
Understanding ARK identifiers, how to get started with ARKs, benefits of decentralized PIDs.
Resources covering persistent identifiers for research instruments (PIDInst, B2INST) and software (SWHID). These identifier types are newer and less widely adopted than DOIs or ORCIDs, but increasingly important for reproducibility and proper attribution of research infrastructure and code.
Detailed, human-readable guidance on how to map metadata collected for research instruments to the metadata required for registering a persistent identifier (PID) for instruments.
DataCite DOIPIDInstB2InstePIC handle
Authors:
Edmunds, Rorie; Springer, Frederik; Böhm, Jana
Proficiency Level:
competent, proficient, expert
Duration:
46 pages
License:
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the metadata requirements for registering instrument PIDs. Learn how to map existing instrument metadata to standardized PID metadata schemas. Apply practical metadata mapping techniques using real-world examples.
The "PID Network Germany" project hosted this online seminar on PIDs for instruments. A combination of informative presentations and specific examples of PIDs for instruments.
B2INST is a community-driven solution for global and unique identification of instruments operated within the research domain. Covers various scientific instruments such as sensors used in environmental sciences.
PIDInstB2Inst
Organisation:
GWDG
Proficiency Level:
competent, proficient, expert
License:
CC-BY-SA-3.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the purpose of B2INST as a PID service for research instruments. Recognise how instrument identifiers can be used to register, describe and reference scientific equipment across domains.
A FAIR PID model for research data in catalysis, based on the Handle system. PID4Cat builds upon the handle system with a custom API and provides a LinkML metadata model for PID-related metadata storage.
handleePIC handle
Organisation:
NFDI4Cat (National Research Data Infrastructure for Catalysis-Related Sciences)
Proficiency Level:
proficient, expert
License:
Source code and data model: MIT License; Documentation and images: CC-BY 4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understanding Handle-based PIDs, implementing PID4Cat system, working with LinkML metadata models.
This tutorial explains the SWHID (Software Hash Identifier) scheme developed by Software Heritage. It covers why traditional identifiers like DOIs may not always fit software artefacts and how SWHIDs address this.
SWHID
Organisation:
Software Heritage Foundation
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what a SWHID is and how it differs from other PIDs. Recognize the different SWHID object types and their use cases. Learn how to generate or retrieve SWHIDs for software artifacts.
Step-by-step instructions for preparing software repositories, archiving them in the Software Heritage archive, and referencing them using SWHIDs.
SWHID
Organisation:
Software Heritage Foundation
Learning Outcomes:
Learn how to archive code into Software Heritage. Recognise how to reference archival software artifacts using SWHIDs. Appreciate how persistent identifiers for software support reproducibility and citation.
A recorded talk introducing the design, purpose, and upcoming roadmap of the SWHID (Software Hash Identifier) specification by Software Heritage.
SWHID
Organisation:
Software Heritage Foundation
Proficiency Level:
advanced beginner, competent, proficient
Duration:
56:02 minutes
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the motivation behind the SWHID system. Recognise the core vs qualified variants of SWHID. Be introduced to examples of software artefacts, versioning, and reproducible referencing.
Formal specification of the SWHID scheme. Details syntax, object types, core identifiers and qualified identifiers for software artifacts preserved by Software Heritage.
SWHID
Authors:
Cosmo, Roberto Di
Organisation:
Universite Paris Cite
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what SWHIDs are and why they are needed. Recognise the difference between "core" and "qualified" SWHIDs and their syntax.
Workshop session on SWHID from a FAIR Implementation workshop. Highlights software identification as essential for long-term traceability of scholarly outputs.
SWHID
Authors:
Gruenpeter, Morane; Granger, Sabrina
Organisation:
Inria Centre de Recherche de Paris; Inria Lyon Centre
The formal standard for software-heritage identifiers, defining both "core identifiers" and "qualified identifiers" for software artifacts preserved by the Software Heritage archive.
SWHID
Organisation:
Software Heritage Foundation
Proficiency Level:
competent, proficient, expert
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what a SWHID is and how it differs from other PID types for software. Recognise the syntax and structure of "core identifiers" vs "qualified identifiers".
Comprehensive developer- and user-oriented guide to the Software Heritage universal archive of source code. Covers browsing, referencing, depositing, and using software artefacts via the archive's tools and API.
SWHID
Organisation:
Software Heritage Foundation
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the mission of Software Heritage and how it archives source code globally. Recognise the role of SWHIDs and how they are supported in the archive. Gain insight into the underlying data model and architecture.
Curated resource collections, training portals, and broader community platforms covering PIDs and research data management. These resources aggregate multiple PID types and learning formats, and are a good starting point for finding additional training materials beyond this collection.
The "PID4NFDI Cookbook" is an open-access online training manual developed under the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) initiative. It offers a practical guide for individuals and organisations on implementing PIDs in research workflows.
Understand what a PID is and why it's essential in research infrastructures. Identify different PID systems and know how to select among them. Gain practical guidance to initiate PID implementation within institutions or projects.
An openly accessible, curated collection of literature related to Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) in research and research data management. Brings together key papers, reports, and documentation from across the PID landscape.
A global information and discussion platform for persistent identifiers (PIDs), bringing together communities working with PIDs in the research world. Includes a Knowledge Hub, User Stories, and news.
The FAIR Cookbook is an open, online "cookbook" of use-cases ("recipes") for making research data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). Developed within the life sciences under ELIXIR.
DataCite DOIORCIDROR
Organisation:
FAIRplus project
Proficiency Level:
advanced beginner, competent, proficient
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the FAIR principles and why they are important for research data. Recognise how PIDs contribute to making data findable and reusable. Identify and apply practical "recipes" for metadata, workflows and tools relating to FAIR data.
The TeSS portal of ELIXIR aggregates a comprehensive catalogue of training materials in the life sciences – including tutorials, slide decks, videos, and hands-on modules covering PIDs and research data management.
Understand how to discover and access a wide range of training materials via the TeSS portal. Learn how to filter and select materials by topic, level, license, and format.
This resource describes the different aspects of developing persistent identifiers (PIDs) in the context of Heritage Collections. Based on community consultation, it covers PID selection, implementation, and governance for GLAM institutions.
Comprehensive collection of training materials, documentation, datasets, tools and resources for research data management and PID systems from the Australian Research Data Commons.
Organisation:
ARDC - Australian Research Data Commons
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Enhanced RDM skills, understanding FAIR principles, evaluating dataset FAIRness, implementing PIDs according to Australian strategy.
German-language platform for RDM training materials specifically tailored for engineering sciences. Provides self-paced online courses, interactive elements (H5P quizzes, assignments), and engineering-specific RDM guidance.
Organisation:
NFDI4Ing
Proficiency Level:
novice, advanced beginner, competent
License:
CC-BY-4.0
Learning Outcomes:
Understanding RDM in engineering context, applying FAIR principles, creating data management plans, managing data through lifecycle phases.
An online self-assessment tool from the Netherlands eScience Center and the Australian Research Data Commons that allows research software authors to evaluate how well their software aligns with FAIR principles.
Organisation:
Netherlands eScience Center; Australian Research Data Commons
Learning Outcomes:
Recognise how the FAIR principles apply specifically to research software. Understand the importance of persistent identifiers for software versioning and citation. Assess a software project's compliance against FAIR criteria.