objektID

objektID is a generic term used in information technology to denote a unique identifier assigned to an object within a system. The exact semantics and constraints of an objektID vary by context, but the common purpose is to support unambiguous reference, retrieval, and linkage across components.

Formats and scope: An objektID can be numeric, alphanumeric, or a globally unique identifier such as a UUID/GUID or an object identifier (OID) in hierarchical form. The scope can be local to a database, application, or system, or global across an organization or the internet. The choice of format and scope affects how identities are generated, stored, and shared.

Characteristics and role: An objektID is typically immutable after creation and acts as a stable handle independent of the object's mutable state. In databases, it often serves as a primary key or surrogate key; in distributed systems, a globally unique form is preferred to prevent collisions across machines. It is designed to enable efficient lookups, reliable references, and consistent linking between related objects or records.

Generation and best practices: Common generation methods include auto-incrementing sequences in databases, UUIDs, or cryptographic hashes. Best practices include using surrogate keys for persistence, decoupling identifiers from business attributes, avoiding exposing internal IDs publicly, and planning for migrations, archival, and deletion policies. Consideration should be given to privacy and access control when IDs are exposed externally.

Contexts and examples: In relational databases, an objektID might be the primary key of a table. In content management systems, it identifies documents or media assets. In software versioning and distributed systems, object identifiers facilitate references to specific data blobs or entities. The concept is widely used across IT domains to maintain referential integrity and interoperability.