datereid

Datereid is a term used in data modeling to describe a date-based, human-readable identifier intended to uniquely identify records while remaining sortable by date. It typically combines a calendar date with a small unique suffix, forming a composite key or slug that is easy to read and search. While not standardized, the concept is discussed in practical data architecture contexts as a way to balance readability and uniqueness.

Construction and formats commonly cited for a datereid include a fixed date component such as YYYYMMDD followed by a hyphen and a zero-padded suffix (for example, 20240719-0001) or other simple suffix schemes (such as a short alphanumeric tail). The canonical form is intended to ensure that all records from a given date share the same prefix, while the suffix distinguishes individual records.

Applications and rationale

Datereids are proposed for use in event logs, archival metadata, content catalogs, and other systems where a date-based ordering is beneficial and where surrogate keys are either undesirable or not strictly necessary. The main advantages are human readability, natural chronological sorting, and potential simplification of reconciliation tasks across systems that already store date fields.

Limitations and considerations

Adoption of datereids entails trade-offs: longer primary keys, potential suffix collisions if uniqueness is not carefully enforced, and the need for consistent formatting and timezone handling. Storage and indexing considerations arise because keys are text-based rather than fixed-length numeric. Best practices emphasize a fixed, predictable format, UTC date usage, and a clear generation policy to maintain uniqueness.

See also

Composite keys, natural keys, slug, date-based keys, unique identifiers.