Re: Varchar pkey instead of integer - Mailing list pgsql-performance

From Joshua D. Drake
Subject Re: Varchar pkey instead of integer
Date
Msg-id 4833BE42.5030409@commandprompt.com
Whole thread Raw
In response to Varchar pkey instead of integer  ("Robins Tharakan" <tharakan@gmail.com>)
List pgsql-performance
Robins Tharakan wrote:
> Hi,

> Now what I wanted to ask was whether its any different to have the
> primary-keys in such master tables as text/varchar rather than integer ?
> i.e. Can I use a character varying(10) and use the text 'million' /
> 'billion' instead of a serial / integer type ?

One should ask themselves why before can I. :)

If you want to use a varchar() for a primary key that is fine but make
it a natural key not an arbitrary number. If you are going to use
arbitrary numbers, use a serial or bigserial.

Joshua D. Drake


pgsql-performance by date:

Previous
From: "Robins Tharakan"
Date:
Subject: Varchar pkey instead of integer
Next
From: Craig Ringer
Date:
Subject: Re: Varchar pkey instead of integer