Performance Cost of Long Keys & GUID's

From: William Milbratz <milbratzNOSPAMYOULOSER_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 22:26:03 -0600
Message-ID: <tae2el99g1c4aa@news.supernews.com>

Hi all,

We're looking at using database-independent globally unique id's (GUID) for our keys in a new application, consisting of a database-generated high-value (10-digits) and a java-incremented low-value (5 digits), with the two concatenated together. We're weighing the pros & cons of defining the keys as numeric versus character.
Here's the basis
http://www.sdmagazine.com/articles/1999/0012/0012p/0012p.htm?topic=uml

Can anyone comment on the performance overhead of long numeric keys--NUMBER(18,0)--compared to shorter keys--NUMBER(9,0)? I know that long keys mean extra disk consumption, both on the table and the indexes, but what are the other downsides?

Along similar lines, does anyone have positive or negative comments about using character-string "guid's" , whether from a performance or an administrative perspective.

bill milbratz
chicago il usa Received on Wed Mar 07 2001 - 22:26:03 CST