recordid

Recordid, often written as RecordID or record_id, refers to a unique identifier assigned to a single record within a data store. It serves as a stable reference used to retrieve, update, or relate records across tables, collections, or services. A record id is typically immutable: once created, the value does not change even if other attributes of the record are updated. In many database systems the record id doubles as the primary key or is used as a surrogate key to support efficient indexing and referential integrity.

Common implementations vary by technology. Relational databases frequently use auto-increment integers or identity columns. NoSQL stores may generate random or timestamp-based identifiers, such as UUIDs or ObjectIds. Some systems expose a human-friendly natural key, but many prefer surrogate identifiers that have no semantic meaning. Record IDs are usually indexed to enable fast lookups, and they may be included in API responses as the canonical reference for a resource.

Design considerations include deciding between natural keys and surrogate keys, ensuring immutability, and planning for portability across systems. Surrogate ids reduce the risk of change if business rules evolve, but access patterns should remain efficient. Privacy and security concerns arise when sequential or guessable IDs are exposed publicly; some architectures use opaque tokens or hash-based IDs to mitigate enumeration risks. In distributed or replicated environments, globally unique identifiers such as UUIDs or Snowflake IDs help avoid collisions.

In practice, a record id is a foundational element of data modeling, enabling stable references, efficient joins, and reliable data synchronization across applications and services.