What is Synthetic key?

A synthetic key is a type of key created in data modeling, particularly in database design, when multiple fields are combined to form a unique identifier for a record. It typically arises in situations where there are composite keys or relationships between tables that do not have a single primary key. Synthetic keys can lead to complications in data analysis and reporting, as they may create ambiguity or redundancy. To avoid issues, it's often recommended to resolve synthetic keys by restructuring the data model or defining explicit relationships.