Archival Resource Keys (ARK) are a global, open persistent identifier for digital objects, developed and stewarded by CDL. ARKs are designed to provide durable, long-term citation and reliable access to digital objects, ensuring that links remain stable even when underlying web addresses or storage locations change. CDL operates the core technical infrastructure for the ARK ecosystem, including the global Name-to-Thing (N2T) resolver and the Name Assigning Authority Numbers (NAAN) registry, the central index of participating ARK organizations.
Today, ARKs are used by a global community of libraries, archives, museums, publishers, and government agencies in over 70 countries. This widespread adoption has established ARKs as a key part of the global persistent identifier landscape, supported by CDL’s deep and ongoing investment in the infrastructure’s stability and future. For more details about the ARK community or how to get started, please visit the official website – https://arks.org.