objID

Objid, short for object identifier, is a general term used to refer to a value that uniquely identifies an object within a given software system, namespace, or domain. The exact meaning, format, and lifetime of an objid vary by context, and there is no single universal standard.

In databases, objid often serves as a surrogate or internal key that distinguishes one object from another. Some database systems expose an internal object identifier (OID) that references catalog entries, tables, or large objects. In application schemas, a column named objid is commonly used to store a unique identifier for records, decoupled from any business data carried in the row. These identifiers are typically opaque to users and can be numeric or alphanumeric, depending on the system.

In distributed, network, or protocol contexts, object identifiers may take hierarchical forms. For example, certain systems use dotted numeric strings to express a namespace and subobjects, while others adopt simple integers. This kind of objid is designed to remain stable across object moves or changes in the surrounding data, but its format and persistence rules are defined by the specific protocol or API.

Key considerations when working with objids include ensuring namespace isolation to avoid collisions, treating objids as opaque references that should not carry business meaning, and managing their lifecycle (creation, persistence, and potential reuse after deletion) according to system policies. Security practices often recommend minimizing exposure of internal objids to external clients to reduce information leakage and coupling.

Overall, objid is a flexible concept used across databases, applications, and protocols to provide a stable, unique reference to an object within a defined scope. The precise characteristics depend on the system in which it is implemented.