Definition: Object identifier

Category: Memobust Glossary

In database technology, the object identifier is the name for a variable or a combination of variables that satisfy the following requirements: 

- the value of the variable (or the combination of variables) is unique in the table (or data set) and therefore unambiguously defines the record in which it occurs; 
- the variable (or the combination of variables) is filled in everywhere and therefore cannot be empty; 
- the combination of variables is minimal: by eliminating one of the variables, the record is no longer unambiguously defined. 

If related tables refer to the table in which the variable (or combination) of variables occur, this is used to establish a relationship between tables. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/content/memobust-glossary-pdf-file_en