Making a decision about how to create your primary keys is one of the most important decisions you will have to make while developing a database schema. Auto-incrementing integers have traditionally been used as primary keys in databases due to the fact that they are simple to build, efficient, and predictable. With that being said, Universally Unique Identifiers (also known as UUIDs) have emerged as a popular option in contemporary distributed systems. However, what exactly are UUIDs, and how do they compare to primary keys when it comes to the design of databases? The purpose of this essay is to examine the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing UUIDs as primary keys in relational and NoSQL databases. Additionally, we will address the circumstances in which they are the most suitable choice and the circumstances in which they should be avoided.
What is a UUID?
A Universally Unique Identifier, often known as a UUID, is a representation of a 128-bit value that is commonly expressed as a 32-character hexadecimal string. For example, a UUID could be d6b2a2b3-bc67-4bdf-9ab4-b0f8bcb575be. One of the most important qualities of a UUID is that it is globally unique. This means that no two UUIDs that are formed, regardless of whether they are generated in separate systems or at different times, will ever be identical. It is possible to generate UUIDs in a variety of ways, and there are many versions of UUIDs (for example, UUIDv1, UUIDv4) that generate their values in a variety of different ways.
One of the most significant distinctions between UUIDs and traditional integer-based keys (such as auto-incrementing IDs) is that UUIDs can be generated without the need for a central authority or coordination. Because of this characteristic, they are ideally suited for distributed systems, which are characterized by records that are generated independently on several machines or by various services.
Advantages of Using UUID as a Primary Key
1. Global Uniqueness and No Key Collisions
The fact that UUIDs are inherently unique is one of the most compelling arguments in favor of using them as primary keys. The Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) are intended to be globally unique, in contrast to auto-incrementing numbers, which are dependent on a central sequence and may eventually clash in dispersed systems. These characteristics make them particularly well-suited for use in settings where a number of apps, servers, or microservices are simultaneously producing data.
On the other hand, in a distributed application design, such as a system based on microservices, every service has the ability to generate its own unique user identifiers (UUIDs) independently, without having to worry about key collisions. These unique identifiers (UUIDs) ensure that there are no conflicts that arise when the data from these services is integrated into a central database. The fact that this is the case makes UUIDs especially helpful in multi-tenant applications, which are applications in which multiple clients may interact with the system at the same time.
2. Ideal for Distributed Systems
The use of UUIDs is particularly advantageous in distributed systems, which are characterized by the independent generation of data by many nodes or devices inside the system. When auto-incrementing integers in a distributed environment, one of the most common issues that arises is the requirement for a central authority to manage the incrementing process. This requirement can lead to bottlenecks and restricts the system’s ability to scale. On the other hand, UUIDs are designed to be decentralized, which means that every node or service can produce their own unique keys without the need for them to coordinate with one another.
In this context, UUIDs are frequently utilized in distributed databases such as Apache Cassandra, MongoDB, and Elasticsearch. These databases are designed to scale horizontally and manage massive amounts of data that are dispersed over numerous locations.
3. Security Through Obfuscation
UUIDs also offer a layer of security through obscurity. In traditional systems where auto-incrementing integers are used as primary keys, it is easy for someone to guess the next available ID or infer how many records exist in the system. This predictability can be a security risk, especially in web applications where user-facing IDs are part of the URL (e.g., /user/123).
UUIDs, however, are long, random-looking strings, making it difficult for an outsider to predict the next value or infer the size of the dataset. This unpredictability can enhance security by obscuring the structure of the database.
4. Facilitates Data Merging
In scenarios where data from multiple sources must be merged, UUIDs can simplify the process. For example, if data from two different systems with their own auto-incrementing integer sequences need to be combined, there is a high risk of primary key collisions. However, because UUIDs are globally unique, data from different systems can be merged without worrying about key conflicts, making it easier to integrate diverse datasets.
5. Works Well with NoSQL Databases
NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Cassandra, and Couchbase, which are often used in distributed environments, tend to favor UUIDs due to their decentralized nature. In NoSQL databases, data is typically stored in a schema-less format and indexed using non-sequential keys like UUIDs. These databases are optimized to scale horizontally, and UUIDs make it easier to partition data across multiple nodes or clusters while maintaining uniqueness.
Challenges and Disadvantages of Using UUID as a Primary Key
1. Performance Overhead
UUIDs come with considerable drawbacks, particularly in terms of storage and performance, despite the fact that they offer enormous benefits in terms of uniqueness and scalability—two of the most important advantages. The fact that a UUID is 128 bits (16 bytes) in length, as opposed to a standard 4-byte integer, indicates that it requires a greater amount of storage space, not just for the key itself but also for any indexes that are constructed on it.
When dealing with millions or billions of entries, this might lead to a higher utilization of disk space in large databases, which may have an effect on performance. This is especially true when dealing with huge storage capacities. Moreover, unique identifiers (UUIDs) are not as effective for indexing as smaller integers, and the utilization of UUIDs as primary keys might slow down the performance of queries, particularly when conducting searches that involve huge datasets.
2. Lack of Sequential Ordering
The fact that UUIDs are not consecutive is a significant performance issue that arises when using them as main keys. It is possible that this lack of ordering will lead to index fragmentation, which will eventually lead to a decrease in performance. Every time new entries are added to a table that has an auto-incrementing integer primary key, the new key values are always greater than the ones that came before them. This indicates that the new records are added at the “end” of the table or index.
Because UUIDs, on the other hand, are generated in a random fashion (or, in the case of some versions, such as UUIDv1, time-based but still not sequential in the traditional sense), it is possible for new records to be placed into the index at arbitrary points. It is possible for this random insertion to result in fragmentation, which can therefore lead to wasteful use of storage and slower index lookups.
“Sequential UUIDs” (such as UUIDv1 or UUIDv4 with a timestamp) are utilized by certain systems in order to alleviate this issue. These “sequential UUIDs” offer a certain degree of ordering, although it is possible that they do not function as well as sequential integers could.
3. Difficult to Read and Debug
One more disadvantage of utilizing UUIDs as main keys is that they are lengthy, cryptic strings that are difficult for people to comprehend or understand. This is a disadvantage that cannot be overlooked. If you need to manually query a database or debug it, dealing with auto-incrementing integers is much simpler than working with other types of integers since they are sequential, compact, and frequently provide a logical sense of the order in which records are created.
UUIDs, on the other hand, are not user-friendly, and working with them during manual debugging, reporting, or logging can be a laborious and time-consuming process. It is possible that this will not be a problem with automated systems; nonetheless, it may be a problem for administrators or developers who are required to manually check data.
4. Increased Join and Lookup Costs
Due to the fact that UUIDs are longer than integers, they have the potential to increase the amount of time and resources in huge datasets that are necessary for joins or lookups. To give you an example, if you are connecting tables that have UUIDs as primary keys, the join process will need more calculation than it would if the keys were plain numbers. A further point to consider is that indexing big UUID columns can slow down the performance of queries.
For systems in which fast speed is of the utmost importance, particularly those that entail frequent lookups, joins, or filtering, the utilization of UUIDs as primary keys might not be the most optimal solution.
5. Complexity in Legacy Systems
When it comes to legacy systems that have relied on integer-based primary keys for many years, the implementation of UUIDs can make things more complicated. It is possible that the switch to UUIDs will necessitate modifications to the application logic, APIs, and storage methods that are currently in place. For instance, if your system is already utilizing primary keys that are based on integers in URLs or other external interfaces, switching to UUIDs can result in compatibility concerns.
Additionally, there is a possibility that certain legacy databases or systems do not have effective support for UUIDs, which may necessitate additional work in order to adapt or upgrade the system.
When to Use UUID as a Primary Key
UUIDs are most useful in environments where data is distributed across multiple systems, or when data privacy and security are top concerns. Some common use cases for UUIDs include:
- Distributed applications: Systems like microservices or multi-cloud applications that need to generate unique identifiers without relying on a central authority.
- Merging data: When combining data from different sources, UUIDs ensure that there are no key collisions.
- NoSQL databases: When using databases optimized for horizontal scaling, such as MongoDB or Cassandra, UUIDs are often preferred.
- Security-sensitive applications: When security concerns require that primary keys be obfuscated or non-predictable.
When to Avoid UUID as a Primary Key
While UUIDs have their advantages, they are not always the best choice. If you are building a system with very high-performance demands, such as a high-volume OLTP (online transaction processing) system, or if storage space is a critical factor, you may want to stick with integer-based keys. Additionally, if you are working with a legacy system or need human-readable keys, UUIDs might add unnecessary complexity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) provide considerable benefits when working with dispersed systems, combining data, and meeting security compliance requirements. There are, however, trade-offs associated with storage, performance, and convenience of use that come along with these devices. It is essential to give serious consideration to both of these advantages and disadvantages when creating a database structure. A wide variety of contemporary applications, particularly those that grow horizontally or call for the production of keys in a decentralized manner, are great candidates for the use of UUIDs. On the other hand, an auto-incrementing integer primary key can still be the superior choice for more conventional systems due to the fact that performance and storage efficiency are two of the most important considerations.
