Why asp.net Identity user id is string?

Question

I want to use System.Guid type as an id for all of my tables in asp.net web api application. But I also use Asp.net Identity, which using a string-type id (to store guids as well). So I wonder why is it using string id instead of System.Guid by default? And what is better choice to use through all the application - Guid id or string-guid id? In case of using string - what is the most proper and reliable way to generate new id - in code or in database?

Answer 1

With ASP.NET Core, you have a very simple way to specify the data type you want for Identity's models.

First step, override identity classes from < string> to < data type you want> :

public class ApplicationUser : IdentityUser<Guid> { }  public class ApplicationRole : IdentityRole<Guid> { } 

Declare your database context, using your classes and the data type you want :

public class ApplicationDbContext : IdentityDbContext<ApplicationUser, ApplicationRole, Guid>     {         public ApplicationDbContext(DbContextOptions<ApplicationDbContext> options)             : base(options)         {         }          protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder builder)         {             base.OnModelCreating(builder);             // Customize the ASP.NET Identity model and override the defaults if needed.             // For example, you can rename the ASP.NET Identity table names and more.             // Add your customizations after calling base.OnModelCreating(builder);         }     } 

And in your startup class, declare the identity service using your models and declare the data type you want for the primary keys :

services.AddIdentity<ApplicationUser, ApplicationRole>()             .AddEntityFrameworkStores<ApplicationDbContext, Guid>()             .AddDefaultTokenProviders();