Importance of Primary Keys

[shiningblade]

How important are primary keys in a SQL Server database? I know someone who says it is common practice not to use them. Is he out to lunch?

 

[foxdev]

Well, he may not be out to lunch, but probably a long coffee break.

I guess you'd have to do a large-sample survey to determine what "common practice" is, but leaving out primary keys as a matter of policy is certainly not the textbook approach. --------------
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[SQLSister]

Anytime that I have gotten lazy and not created a primary key, I have regretted it later! Sooner or later you will always need a way to uniquely identify a particular record!

Your friend might be right that many people don't use them. However, there are many poorly designed databases operating out there too. Just because other people do something doesn't make it a good practice.

 

[fluteplr]

Probably not out to lunch but if he worked for me he would be out of a job. Seriously you should always have a primary key even if it is just an identity field.