(e) Referential integrity. Flashcards
1
Q
What is referential integrity?
A
A rule ensuring foreign keys match valid primary keys in another table.
2
Q
What happens if referential integrity is not maintained?
A
Orphan records can appear, breaking data consistency.
3
Q
What is an ‘orphan record’?
A
A record whose foreign key value references a non-existent primary key value
4
Q
How can referential integrity be enforced in SQL?
A
By declaring foreign key constraints (e.g., FOREIGN KEY REFERENCES).