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Relational Database Flash Cards

Referential integrity requires that values of foreign keys must exist as primary keys in related tables. A foreign key appears in one entity as a primary key does in another. A compound key is a primary key consisting of two or more attributes. Entity integrity dictates that every entity must have a unique, non-null primary key. The first, second and third normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF) aim to eliminate repeating groups, partial dependencies, and non-key attributes to reduce data anomalies.

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79 views

Relational Database Flash Cards

Referential integrity requires that values of foreign keys must exist as primary keys in related tables. A foreign key appears in one entity as a primary key does in another. A compound key is a primary key consisting of two or more attributes. Entity integrity dictates that every entity must have a unique, non-null primary key. The first, second and third normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF) aim to eliminate repeating groups, partial dependencies, and non-key attributes to reduce data anomalies.

Uploaded by

NickyStephens
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Relational Databases

Define referential integrity

Referential integrity means that no value of a


foreign key attribute can exist unless that value
exists in a related table where the attribute is the
primary key.

Relational Databases

Define a foreign key

A foreign key is an attribute which appears in an


entity and appears in another entity as the primary
key.

Relational Databases

Define a compound key

A compound key is a uniquely identifying primary


key made up of 2 or more attributes.

Relational Databases

Define entity integrity

Entity integrity states that every entity must have a


primary key, which is both unique and non-null.

Relational Databases

Define 1NF

1NF: Remove repeating data to a new entity along


with a copy of the primary key.

Relational Databases

Define 2NF

2NF: Remove partial dependencies to a new entity


along with a copy of the entity the dependency is
based on.

Relational Databases

Define 3NF

3NF: Remove non-key (transitive) dependencies to a


new entity along with a copy of the attribute the
dependency is based on.

Relational Databases

What is the purpose of an entityrelationship diagram?

An E/R diagram describes the cardinality of the


relationships between entities in a relational
database model.

Relational Databases

What is the purpose of an data dictionary?

A data dictionary provides a plan of how attributes


should be created in a database, e.g. unique fields,
validation checks and attribute types.

Relational Databases

What is boolean data?

Boolean data is data which can only ever be one of


2 states, such as True/False , On/Off, Yes/No.

Relational Databases

What is metadata?

Metadata is data about data, e.g a data dictionary


is metadata for the data that will be entered into a
database.

Relational Databases

What is a surrogate key?

A surrogate key is a replacement key for a situation


where there may be a large compound key or no
obvious key at all.

Relational Databases

What is a compound key?

A compound key is one which is made of 2 or more


attributes.

Relational Databases

What is an object data type?

An object data type is one which holds data such as


a picture, movie, sound or a file.
It contains data that cannot be sorted or searched
like other attributes.

Relational Databases

What problems can occur leaving a


database table in unnormalised form?

Anomalies can occur in an unnormalised system.


Either deletion, addition or update anomaly.

Relational Databases

What are the 2 distinct problems that can


occur in using a meaningful identifier as a
primary key in a database table?

A meaningful identifier can lead to duplication of


the identifier meaning the key is not unique.
Also the identifier may have to change its value
leading to multiple changes having to be made.

Relational Databases

What is a link data type?

An attribute type which provides a link to another


resource, such as a video file or web page.

Relational Databases

What does the term term cardinality mean, Cardinality describes the nature of the relationships
between tables in a relational database.
and what are the different types of
Cardinality can be 1:1, 1:M or M:M (M:N)
cardinality that can exist in a database
table?

Relational Databases

What does the term domain constrains


mean?

Domain constraints refers to the range of


acceptable values allowed for an attribute.
Setting an attribute as unique or applying a range
check are 2 methods of applying domain
constraints.

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