What are the best practices for using surrogate keys in databases?

What are the best practices for using surrogate keys in databases?

Surrogate keys are unique identifiers for database records. Best practices include using simple data types, ensuring they are immutable, and avoiding business logic in their generation.

Why should I use surrogate keys instead of natural keys?

Surrogate keys provide a consistent identifier that is not subject to change, unlike natural keys which can be affected by business changes.

Can you give an example of a surrogate key?

Sure! A common example of a surrogate key is an auto-incrementing integer, like a user ID in a user table.

What are the downsides of using surrogate keys?

Some downsides include potential confusion when joining tables and the lack of meaningful information, as surrogate keys are often arbitrary.

How do surrogate keys affect database performance?

Surrogate keys can improve performance by simplifying joins and indexing, but they can also lead to larger index sizes if not managed properly.