Keys
Keys
In relational databases, keys are attributes (or a combination of attributes) that help identify records in a table and create relationships between tables. They are important for maintaining data accuracy and avoiding duplicate records.
🔹 Primary Key
A primary key uniquely identifies each row in a table. It cannot contain duplicate or NULL values. Each table can have only one primary key.
🔹 Candidate Key
A candidate key is any attribute that can uniquely identify a record. A table may have multiple candidate keys, but only one is selected as the primary key.
🔹 Super Key
A super key is a set of one or more attributes that uniquely identify a record. It may include extra attributes along with a candidate key.
🔹 Foreign Key
A foreign key is an attribute in one table that refers to the primary key of another table. It helps maintain relationships and ensures referential integrity.
🔹 Composite Key
A composite key is formed by combining two or more attributes to uniquely identify a record.
Keys are essential in relational databases because they ensure uniqueness, maintain relationships, and support data integrity.
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