Why not using key with business meaning

bfovez · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2003 9:19 am

I read in the doc "Be very careful when using this feature to assign keys with business meaning (almost always a terrible design decision)."

Why is it so a terrible design decision. Have someone an answer?

Tnx a lot.

emmanuel · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:22 pm

Have a look at External documentation, thre are some good materials on that subject.

baliukas · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2003 2:06 pm

"business meaning" is mutable.

TABLE Customer

PassportNo PK (business meaning)
FirsName
LastName

Account

CountryCode + BankCode + No PK (more broken key )
Customer FK
Balance

It means I will lose balance if I will lose my passport, is not it ?