ID's in a database.

[gaylord]

Hi, I have some questions about using unique ID's in my database.
1. Is it better to use ID's or for example Names or email as primary key.
2. What are the disadvantages of using ID's as primary key in the tables in my database?
3. Would it be more easier to make queries with ID?
4. Does this make joins statements more difficult?
5. Would ID's make a webbased program work slower?

Thanks in advance,
Gaylord

[[deleted]]

1. yes
2. there are none
3. yes
4. no, it makes them easier
5. no

[danielle]

1. Is it better to use ID's or for example Names or email as primary key.

->you want the key to be completely unique - people can easily share the same name and sometimes email.

3. Would it be more easier to make queries with ID?

->one thing is that, since they are numeric - you can step through them in a loop

4. Does this make joins statements more difficult?

->not at all

5. Would ID's make a webbased program work slower?

->nope - if anything, faster

*check out info about relational databases to understand better about keys and querying the database