Handle¶
Last updated: 2025-05-08
The Handle System is a basic PID infrastructure that may be used to create PIDs called handles to refer to generic digital objects, including but not limited to documents, web pages, file archives, structured metadata, etc. Each handle is made up of a numeric prefix and a unique suffix. The handle itself is not designed to contain metadata describing the nature of the object, since its primary purpose is to serve as a transparent link redirecting the user to the target object.
The Handle System is run as a decentralised infrastructure, with locally hosted Local Handle Services being able to create new handles. They are coordinated by the Global Handle Registry administered by the DONA Foundation, which keeps track of handle prefixes. Registering a prefix comes with a yearly fee.
Many infrastructures build upon the Handle System, including several other PID systems. Examples of PIDs built on top of the Handle infrastructure include DOI and ePIC. This is enabled by infrastructures being accredited as multi-primary administrators for a Handle implementation, making rich customisation possible.
Where to get started as a Swedish organisation?¶
| Use case | Contact | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Setting up a Handle-based infrastructure | Handle.net Registry | https://handle.net/prefix.html |
PID Parameters¶
| Parameter | Value | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Handle, Handle System | |
| Intended use | Generic digital objects | Any digital object accessible with an URI |
| Example | 20.1000/105 | |
| Example with resolver | http://hdl.handle.net/20.1000/105 | |
| Case sensitive | Yes (default) | Implementation dependent |
| General resolver | http://hdl.handle.net | |
| May use custom resolver | Yes | As part of a Local Handle Service |
| Accompanying metadata kernel | No | Metadata should be delivered by the handle target if needed |
| Inception | 1994 | |
| Standard | RFC 3650 | https://doi.org/10.17487%2FRFC3650 |
| Standard | RFC 3651 | https://doi.org/10.17487%2FRFC3651 |
| Standard | RFC 3652 | https://doi.org/10.17487%2FRFC3652 |
| Documentation | Handle.net Documentation | https://handle.net/hnr_documentation.html |
| Wikipedia article | Handle System | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handle_System |
| Wikidata Q-ID | Q3126718 | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3126718 |
| Wikidata P-ID | P1184 | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Property:P1184 |
PID Ecosystem¶
| Component | Name | URL |
|---|---|---|
| PID Scheme | Handle System | https://www.handle.net/ |
| PID Authority | DONA Foundation | https://www.dona.net/ |
| PID Standards Body | RFC-based (Internet Engineering Task Force, Corporation for National Research Initiatives) | https://rfc-editor.org/ https://www.cnri.reston.va.us/ |
| PID Multi-Primary Administrator | (Implementation dependent) | |
| PID Provider | (Implementation dependent) | |
| PID Manager | (Implementation dependent) |