


What is the difference between a primary key and a unique key in MySQL?
Aug 03, 2025 am 09:03 AMA primary key cannot contain NULL values, while a unique key allows one NULL per column; 2. A table can have only one primary key but multiple unique keys; 3. Both create unique indexes, but the primary key creates a clustered index (in InnoDB), whereas unique keys create non-clustered indexes; 4. Primary keys are commonly referenced by foreign keys, though unique keys can also be referenced. Therefore, the primary key is stricter and central to table design, used for the main row identifier, while unique keys enforce uniqueness on other columns like email or username, ensuring data integrity with more flexibility.
The main difference between a primary key and a unique key in MySQL lies in their handling of NULL values and their role in table structure, even though both enforce uniqueness of values in a column or set of columns.

1. NULL Values: Primary Key vs Unique Key
Primary Key:
A primary key cannot contain NULL values. Every row must have a valid, non-NULL value in the primary key column(s). This ensures that each row can always be uniquely identified.-
Unique Key:
A unique key can contain one NULL value per column (in MySQL). Since NULL is considered "unknown," multiple NULLs would not be comparable, so MySQL allows only one NULL in a unique column. However, this behavior can vary slightly depending on the storage engine (e.g., InnoDB handles this consistently).
Example:
If you have ausers
table with a unique constraint onuser_id
is the primary key, it must have a value for every user.
2. Number of Keys per Table
-
Primary Key:
A table can have only one primary key. It defines the main way to uniquely identify a record. Unique Key:
A table can have multiple unique keys (i.e., multiple columns or combinations of columns that must be unique). For example, you might have unique constraints on bothemail
andemployee_id
.
3. Indexing and Performance
- Both primary key and unique key create unique indexes automatically in MySQL.
- The primary key creates a clustered index (in InnoDB), which determines the physical order of data in the table. This can improve performance for queries using the primary key.
- Unique keys create non-clustered unique indexes, which are separate from the physical data order.
4. Usage in Relationships
- The primary key is typically referenced by foreign keys in other tables. While foreign keys can technically reference a unique key, it's far more common and recommended to reference the primary key for clarity and consistency.
Summary of Key Differences
Feature | Primary Key | Unique Key |
---|---|---|
NULL values allowed? | No | Yes (only one NULL per column) |
Number per table | Only one | Multiple allowed |
Automatically indexed? | Yes (clustered index in InnoDB) | Yes (non-clustered unique index) |
Can be referenced by FK? | Yes (commonly used) | Yes (possible, but less common) |
In practice:
Use the primary key for the main identifier of a row (like id
).
Use unique keys for other columns that must be unique but aren't the main identifier (like email
, username
, ssn
, etc.).
Basically, both ensure uniqueness — but the primary key is stricter and more central to the table's design.
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