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10 Common Mistakes Developers Make with Unique IDs
How to avoid these mistakes
Unique identifiers (IDs) are critical in software development. They allow systems to distinguish between users, records, and processes reliably across components and services. Despite their essential role, developers often underestimate the complexity behind designing and managing them effectively.
Whether you’re building a small application or a distributed system, mistakes in ID generation and usage can lead to serious issues like data collisions, performance bottlenecks, and even security vulnerabilities.
Below are ten common mistakes developers make when working with unique IDs — and practical ways to avoid them.
1. Hardcoding Unique IDs
One of the most fundamental mistakes is hardcoding IDs directly into the application. This approach may seem harmless during early development or testing but leads to duplication, rigidity, and significant maintenance problems as the system evolves.
Solution: Always use automated ID generation methods. Let the database or application logic assign IDs dynamically using sequences, UUID libraries, or other algorithms. This ensures uniqueness while improving flexibility and scalability.