Description: A surrogate key is an artificial key used to uniquely identify an entity in a database. Unlike natural keys, which are derived from existing attributes of the data, surrogate keys are specifically generated for this purpose. These keys are often numbers or character strings that have no inherent meaning, making them ideal for maintaining data integrity and privacy. One of the main characteristics of surrogate keys is their ability to avoid conflicts in record identification, especially in systems where data may be imported from various sources. Additionally, by being generated randomly or sequentially, surrogate keys allow for more efficient management of relationships between different tables in relational databases. Their use has become common in the design of modern databases, where the need for scalability and flexibility is crucial. In summary, surrogate keys are essential for ensuring the uniqueness and integrity of data in information storage systems.
