surrogate key

noun

A unique identifier for an entity or object, not derived from application data.

“We weren't sure which columns in the table would have unique values, so we used a separate surrogate key as the primary key.”

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Meanings

nounsurrogate key (plural surrogate keys)

plural surrogate keys

  1. computingA unique identifier for an entity or object, not derived from application data.

    We weren't sure which columns in the table would have unique values, so we used a separate surrogate key as the primary key.

Translations

Bulgarian сурога́тен ключ
  • сурога́тен ключ (surogáten ključ)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

surrogate key. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surrogate%20key

MLA

“surrogate key.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surrogate%20key. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “surrogate key,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/surrogate%20key.

Source: surrogate key on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.