What is an artificial key?

An artificial key is a key that the user creates when no key is available to serve as the primary key in the table. It is basically an integer and holds no information about the existing entity. An artificial key is required in the following conditions:

• When no candidate key fulfills the requirement to become a primary key.
• When the candidate key is very large or complex and hence cannot serve as the primary key.
• When the candidate key contains very sensitive information.