Re: Is the use of VARCHAR(256) as Primary Keys preferred in Oracle?

From: Galen Boyer <galenboyer_at_hotpop.com>
Date: 24 Nov 2002 20:53:15 -0600
Message-ID: <u4ra6nyzx.fsf@standardandpoors.com>

On Mon, 18 Nov 2002, kennedy-family_at_attbi.com wrote:

> a surrogate key is an arbitrary key (eg a sequence). A natural
> key is one that is naturally part of the data (eg in the US the
> social security number for people)

But the social security number was a generated number. Sure, mine "means" me, but it was still generated.

Maybe part of the arbitrary argument can be upheld because a person designing his database doesn't trust "natural" keys. Most database guys aren't, and shouldn't be, very trusting of much.

-- 
Galen Boyer

Received on Sun Nov 24 2002 - 20:53:15 CST

This message: [ Message body ]
Next message: Galen Boyer: "Re: Is the use of VARCHAR(256) as Primary Keys preferred in Oracle?"
Previous message: John Russell: "Re: Fetch record into a plsql table (record.column_1 into table(index_1))"
In reply to: Jim Kennedy: "Re: Is the use of VARCHAR(256) as Primary Keys preferred in Oracle?"
Next in thread: Karsten Farrell: "Re: Is the use of VARCHAR(256) as Primary Keys preferred in Oracle?"
Reply: Karsten Farrell: "Re: Is the use of VARCHAR(256) as Primary Keys preferred in Oracle?"

Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by thread ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]

Original text of this message

HOME | ASK QUESTION | ADD INFO | SEARCH | E-MAIL US