Is Encoding Information in Keys a Valid Approach for a User Feedback System?

Database Structure for User Feedback System

The concern at hand revolves around designing an optimal database structure for a user feedback system where registered users participate in events and provide feedback for other participants.

The proposed database model features a "Participant" table to establish the many-to-many relationship between users and events. Additionally, it employs a unique "id" column in this table to represent user participation in specific events.

To ensure database integrity, the feedback table's primary key is derived by combining the "sender_id" and "recipient_id," mimicking the "id" column in the "Participant" table.

Is this Approach Valid?

While the proposed approach may avoid duplicate feedback and participant duplication, it is generally considered an anti-pattern known as "encoding information in keys." Assigning meaning to database keys can lead to inflexibility and maintenance challenges.

Recommended Solution

A more suitable approach would be to utilize the following structure:

• Two-column primary key in the "Participant" table
• Two-column foreign key references to the "Participant" table in the "Feedback" table

Primary Key Generation

Database systems often provide mechanisms for automatically generating primary keys based on other column values. However, this is not recommended for primary keys or foreign keys, as it can introduce complexities.

Handling Database Subtypes

The underlying issue in the proposed design is handling database subtypes, hierarchies, and inheritance. DBMSes often offer specific mechanisms to manage such relationships effectively.

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