Explain the terms primary key, candidate key, alternate key, Database Management System

Assignment Help:

Explain the terms primary key, candidate key, alternate key and secondary key. In the given table identify every key?

STUDENT(SID,Regno, Name, City)

Primary Key: The primary key of a relational table uniquely identify every record in the table. It can either be a general attribute (or set of attributes) which is guaranteed to be unique (such as Social Security Number in a table along with no more than one record per person) or it could be provided through the DBMS (such as a globally unique identifier, or GUID, in Microsoft SQL Server).

Candidate Key: A candidate key is a combination of attributes in which can be uniquely used to recognize a database record without any extraneous data. Each table may have one or more candidate keys. One of these candidate keys is chosen as the table primary key.

Alternate Key: An alternate key (or secondary key) is any candidate key that is not selected to be the primary key (PK).

For instance, a relational database along with a table "employee" could have attributes like

"employee_id", "bank_acct_no", and so on. In this case, both "employee_id" and
"bank_acct_no" serve as unique identifiers for a given employee, and could therefore arguably be used for a primary key. Therefore, both of them are known as "candidate keys". If, for example, "bank_acct_no" was chosen as the primary key, "employee_id" would become the alternate key

Secondary Key: Same as above

In above table SID is a primary key, SID and Regno are candidate keys and SIDor Regno are alternate or secondary key.


Related Discussions:- Explain the terms primary key, candidate key, alternate key

ER diagram in database, What is an ER diagram? Why is it used in Database m...

What is an ER diagram? Why is it used in Database management system (DBMS)?

Give a sample of the dynamic model, Give a sample of the Dynamic Model. ...

Give a sample of the Dynamic Model. The sample of dynamic model is given below:  Dynamic model for the car: Brake and Accelerator            Brake or Applies Accelerator

Which two files are used during operation of the dbms, Which two files are ...

Which two files are used during operation of the DBMS? Data dictionary and transaction log are two files used during operation of the DBMS.

Write a short note on temporary tables, Write A short note on temporary tab...

Write A short note on temporary tables? Temporary Tables - Temporary tables exists solely for a particular session, or whose data persists for the duration of the transaction

Evaluate the bulleted list of information-related items, Critically evaluat...

Critically evaluate the bulleted list of information-related items in this case study. How are each contradictory to the notion of being an information-literate knowledge worker?

RDBMS, DISADVANTAGES OF RDBMS

DISADVANTAGES OF RDBMS

What is relational calculus, What is Relational calculus? Relational c...

What is Relational calculus? Relational calculus is a Non- Procedural language.

What is repository?, Problem 1 Why are the operational system keys not ...

Problem 1 Why are the operational system keys not recommended for forming data warehouse primary keys? Give any two examples 2 Explain the following performance tuning techn

What are wait-for-graphs, What are wait-for-graphs?Give the algorithm to co...

What are wait-for-graphs?Give the algorithm to construct a wait-for-graph from a given schedule of transactions? How can deadlocks be detected from wait-for-graphs?   Ans:  The

Identify the critical activities, Consider a systems development project wi...

Consider a systems development project with the following data Activity                                Duration (weeks)        Precedence Relationship 1. Software design

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd