Use MD5 function to create unique IDs

I first encountered this function when trying to join two tables together using about eight separate fields. Not ideal.
The natural inclination is to create your own ID by simply concatenating a bunch of fields together. These columns are bad because they kind of look like data but operate as an ID. It’s important to have a column whose sole function is to be a unique identifier for that row.
Instead, use MD5 functions to create unique IDs on AWS. IDs that are obviously IDs reduce confusion among junior analyst and end users by removing semi-comprehensible data strings throughout your database.
At any rate, be aware that MD5 is no longer considered strong as a hash function, should it contain sensitive information
More info on how this works is in Learn about cryptographyLearn about cryptography
Entropy

Entropy is a measure of randomness

Hashing functions

A cryptographic hash function maps data of arbitrary size to a fixed size
An example of a hash function is SHA-1, which is used in Git references
At a high level, a hash function can be thought of as a hard-to-invert random-looking (but deterministic) function.
A hash function has the following properties:

Deterministic: the same input always generates the same output.
Non-invertible: it is hard to f...
```
select md5('Amazon Redshift')
# ---
# f7415e33f972c03abd4f3fed36748f7a (1 row)
```