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Effects of the Use of Non-Natural Keys on Query Performance in Relational Databases

Author

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  • Mitko Radoev

    (University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria)

Abstract

Choosing a primary key is of a particular importance in the design of a relational database. What are the possible keys, i.e. which columns or combinations of columns are candidate keys? Which of these candidate keys is best suited for a primary key? For quite some time, a trend is gaining more popularity for choosing a primary key - not to use the existing columns of the relationship but to create new, additional column to ensure the uniqueness and to act as a primary key. Recently it became a common practice to use artificial or surrogate identifiers, even in cases where the relationships already have perfectly suited natural identifiers. Using artificial keys is motivated mainly by practical considerations - the keys are shorter, do not have cascade update when changing the key, queries run faster etc. Does using of non-natural keys really increase the performance of the database? This study is testing what is happening with the database in adopting one or the other approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Mitko Radoev, 2013. "Effects of the Use of Non-Natural Keys on Query Performance in Relational Databases," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 4, pages 73-76, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nwe:eajour:y:2013:i:4:p:73-76
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    Cited by:

    1. Vanya Lazarova, 2015. "The Expansion of the E-business Information Systems in the Cloud- Problems and Solutions," Ikonomiceski i Sotsialni Alternativi, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 4, pages 34-47, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    primary key; natural key; non-natural key; query performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General

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