--- title: BG_Entity_Identity description: BG_Entity_Identity is the surrogate key of an Entity. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_entity_identity#main-content) [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal?hsLang=en) [![TRI\_Logo\_biGENIUS\_2020\_RGB\_s](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png?width=150&height=42&name=TRI_Logo_biGENIUS_2020_RGB_s.png)](https://www.bigenius-x.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to Customer Portal](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/customer-portal) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [biGENIUS-X Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Generators](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en) 3. [Default Terms](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/generators?hsLang=en#default-terms) # BG\_Entity\_Identity **Applies to** Platform: Microsoft SQL Server · Snowflake · Databricks · Fabric Lakehouse · Fabric Warehouse Architecture: Dimensional `BG_Entity_Identity` is the surrogate key of an Entity. Facts and other Entities reference an Entity row through this key. ### Objects that carry it Entity. Every Entity gets the term when it is created, named `_SK`, for example `common_customer_scd1_SK`. It is the primary key of the Entity table. ### Value Each new row of the Entity gets a new number. With SCD2 terms, each new version of a business key is a new row and gets its own number. The mechanism depends on the platform: - Microsoft SQL Server, Snowflake, Databricks: an identity column of the table. - Fabric Warehouse: the loader adds a row number to the highest value in the table. - Fabric Lakehouse: the loader derives the value from the load time and a generated row ID. The unknown-member row has the value `-1`. ### Data type - Microsoft SQL Server, Fabric Warehouse: `int` - Snowflake: `INTEGER` - Databricks, Fabric Lakehouse: `long` ### Example An Entity with SCD2 terms on Microsoft SQL Server is loaded at 10:00 and at 11:00 UTC. At 11:00 loyalty card 500 changes. The Result view shows: ``` common_loyaltycard_scd2_SK LOYALTYCARD_ID BG_ValidFromTimestamp -1 0 1900-01-01 00:00 +00:00 1 500 1900-01-01 00:00 +00:00 2 500 2026-10-27 11:00 +00:00 ``` ### Related articles - Reference: [BG\_Entity\_ForeignKey\_Identity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_entity_foreignkey_identity?hsLang=en), [BG\_Fact\_ForeignKey\_Identity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_fact_foreignkey_identity?hsLang=en), [BG\_ValidFromTimestamp](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/bg_validfromtimestamp?hsLang=en) - See also: [Create an Entity](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/create-an-entity?hsLang=en) - [Getting started](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Guidelines](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#guidelines) - [Start working](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#start-working) - [Account](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/getting-started?hsLang=en#account) - [General overview](https://knowledge.bigenius-x.com/general-overview?hsLang=en) - 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