Yes, it is considered unique. React uses the keys in its conciliator to decide how to mutate the DOM in the most efficient way.
In general, problems that identify nodes in the same hierarchy (siblings) between renders are solved.
For example, if you have:
// render A
<div class='parent'>
<div>one</div>
</div>
// render B
<div class='parent'>
<div>two</div>
<div>one</div>
</div>
, <div>one</div> , , , <div>two</div> . <div>one</div> , , , , , , <div>two</div> .
:
, ,
: https://facebook.imtqy.com/react/docs/reconciliation.html#keys