What are public unique IDs (PUIDs)?

When users create records, the applications use document sequencing as they generate unique IDs for each business object record in the database. These IDs are known as public unique IDs, or PUIDs. Understandably, these numbers aren't easy to read or use because of their length and complexity. To overcome the issue of long IDs, you can make these IDs more user-friendly and readable during setup.

These PUID are used in:

• The data model
• Unique sequence generation when you use advanced setup
• Global search by PUID attributes

When you integrate your sales application and other, external applications, the sales application can "call" the PUIDs from those other applications. Which application is calling depends on whether an application in the external application is calling the sales application, or whether a person is using their PUIDs.

You specify PUIDs when you create objects. For example, Party_Number is the PUID for accounts and contacts. When a new account is created, the PUID value can be automatically created by a central routine or supplied by the end user.

See How do I set up public unique IDs (PUIDs)? for more information.