A surrogate key is a unique identifier used in databases to distinguish records. Unlike natural keys, which are derived from the data itself (like a person's name or email), surrogate keys are typically generated automatically, often as sequential numbers. This helps maintain data integrity and simplifies relationships between tables. Surrogate keys are especially useful in data warehousing and business intelligence, where they can streamline data management. They allow for easier updates and changes to the underlying data without affecting the relationships between different entities, such as customers, orders, and products.