Identity column value suddenly jumps to 1000 in sql server

Discussion in 'Databases' started by edotsolutions, Jan 15, 2020.

  1. At the beginning Identity column starts from 1,2 and so on and adding identity smoothly,
    but suddenly it jumps to 1001,1002 and onwards. What could be the reason? Please assist.
     
  2. Elshadriel

    Elshadriel Winhost Staff

    Please open up a support ticket to have it corrected. It happens sometimes when SQL Server restarts due to a server update.
     
  3. While it can be disconcerting to see that, it's no big deal, or shouldn't be a big deal. Identity columns in relational database tables have ONE purpose. They serve as a unique identifier that can be used as a Surrogate Primary Key. In general, neither you nor your users should ever even see or have to deal with them otherwise. That means they are restricted to queries and code where your logic needs to refer to relationships between tables.

    Trying to use Identity columns for other purposes can lead down dark paths that are best left to the gremlins who make their homes there.
     

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