Source
Simplify pipelines with new BigQuery identity columns
BigQuery has introduced identity columns that automatically generate sequential 64-bit integer values for unique identifiers in tables.
Why it matters
This reduces pipeline complexity for data engineers by removing the need to pre-calculate unique keys in external tools or application logic.
The details
Identity columns are defined within the CREATE TABLE statement and utilize 64-bit integers. Users can choose 'GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY' for fully automated management or 'GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY' to allow for manual overrides.
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