What is Identity?
3175
12-Aug-2011
Updated on 17-Sep-2020
Amit Singh
28-Sep-2011Chris Anderson
12-Aug-2011Identity (or AutoNumber) is a column that automatically generates numeric values. A start and increment value can be set, but most DBA leave these at 1. A GUID column also generates numbers; the value of this cannot be controlled. Identity/GUID columns do not need to be indexed.