Definition
A Uniform Resource Name (URN) is a permanent identifier within a wider Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) system. URNs identify the resource itself instead of its locations.
They are among the three primary types of URIs, with the other two being the Uniform Resource Characteristics (URCs) and the Uniform Resource Locators (URLs).
How Do Uniform Resource Names Operate?
A Uniform Resource Name (URN) offers a distinct and consistent identifier for a resource without essentially indicating where it is located. The identifiers should be universally distinct and persistent over time. Upon assignment, the URN must stay unaltered, even when the resource is relocated.
Moreover, Uniform Resource Names often begin with the ‘urn:’ prefix, then the namespace identifier (NID) follows for the accountable naming authority and the resource’s namespace-specific string (NSS). For instance, ‘urn:isbn:0451450523’ corresponds to the 1968 book, The Last Unicorn, with ‘isbn’ (International Standard Book Number) acting as the NID and ‘0451450523’ as the NSS.
Uniform Resource Name (URN) namespaces are regularly hierarchically organized to prevent conflicts. In our example above, you may create sub-namespaces for various publishers to ensure that their identifiers are distinct within their respective namespaces.
Advantages and Applications of URN
URNs have many benefits and use cases like the following:
- Long-term resource management: URNs provide a continuous, location-independent method of classifying resources. This is especially important for resources that require long-term reference, such as scientific articles, digital archives, or scholarly articles.
- Search and resource discovery: URNs can be used with other metadata to improve resource search and discovery. A URN facilitates locating and finding a resource through catalogs, search engines, or other discovery means.
- Digital Rights Management: URNs act as a unique digital content identifier, enabling rights managers to control usage and access rights. This is especially important for copyright and security licensing.
- Metadata linkage: URNs can be used to ensure that policies conform to metadata principles. Assigning URNs to metadata elements makes sharing and integrating metadata easier across systems and domains.
- References and citations: Scholarly publications can use URNs for reference and citation, ensuring accurate and consistent identification of references. This increases the integrity of scientific research and allows for the reproducibility of studies and experiments.