A Key is a single or combination of multiple fields in a table. Its is used to fetch or retrieve records/data-rows from data table according to the condition/requirement. Keys are also used to create relationship among different database tables or views.
Types of SQL Keys:
We have following types of keys in SQL which are used to fetch records from tables and to make relationship among tables or views.
Super Key
Super key is a set of one or more than one keys that can be used to identify a record uniquely in a table.Example : Primary key, Unique key, Alternate key are subset of Super Keys.
Candidate Key
A Candidate Key is a set of one or more fields/columns that can identify a record uniquely in a table. There can be multiple Candidate Keys in one table. Each Candidate Key can work as Primary Key.
Example: In below diagram ID, RollNo and EnrollNo are Candidate Keys since all these three fields can be work as Primary Key.
Primary Key
Primary key is a set of one or more fields/columns of a table that uniquely identify a record in database table. It can not accept null, duplicate values. Only one Candidate Key can be Primary Key.
Alternate key
A Alternate key is a key that can be work as a primary key. Basically it is a candidate key that currently is not primary key.
Example: In below diagram RollNo and EnrollNo becomes Alternate Keys when we define ID as Primary Key.
Composite/Compound Key
Composite Key is a combination of more than one fields/columns of a table. It can be a Candidate key, Primary key.
Unique Key
Uniquekey is a set of one or more fields/columns of a table that uniquely identify a record in database table. It is like Primary key but it can accept only one null value and it can not have duplicate values. For more help refer the article Difference between primary key and unique key.
Foreign Key
Foreign Key is a field in database table that is Primary key in another table. It can accept multiple null, duplicate values. For more help refer the article Difference between primary key and foreign key.
Example : We can have a DeptID column in the Employee table which is pointing to DeptID column in a department table where it a primary key.
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Types of SQL Keys:
We have following types of keys in SQL which are used to fetch records from tables and to make relationship among tables or views.
Super Key
Super key is a set of one or more than one keys that can be used to identify a record uniquely in a table.Example : Primary key, Unique key, Alternate key are subset of Super Keys.
Candidate Key
A Candidate Key is a set of one or more fields/columns that can identify a record uniquely in a table. There can be multiple Candidate Keys in one table. Each Candidate Key can work as Primary Key.
Example: In below diagram ID, RollNo and EnrollNo are Candidate Keys since all these three fields can be work as Primary Key.
Primary Key
Primary key is a set of one or more fields/columns of a table that uniquely identify a record in database table. It can not accept null, duplicate values. Only one Candidate Key can be Primary Key.
Alternate key
A Alternate key is a key that can be work as a primary key. Basically it is a candidate key that currently is not primary key.
Example: In below diagram RollNo and EnrollNo becomes Alternate Keys when we define ID as Primary Key.
Composite/Compound Key
Composite Key is a combination of more than one fields/columns of a table. It can be a Candidate key, Primary key.
Unique Key
Uniquekey is a set of one or more fields/columns of a table that uniquely identify a record in database table. It is like Primary key but it can accept only one null value and it can not have duplicate values. For more help refer the article Difference between primary key and unique key.
Foreign Key
Foreign Key is a field in database table that is Primary key in another table. It can accept multiple null, duplicate values. For more help refer the article Difference between primary key and foreign key.
Example : We can have a DeptID column in the Employee table which is pointing to DeptID column in a department table where it a primary key.