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Difference between Primary key and Unique&notnull on a col [message #375245]

Wed, 08 August 2001 11:33

Srihari
Messages: 22
Registered: October 2000

Junior Member

May I Know the difference between a column defined as primary key with another column of the same table defined as Unique and not null.
When both the column can be referenced by a Foreign keys of then what is need for primary key?

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Re: Difference between Primary key and Unique&notnull on a col [message #375246 is a reply to message #375245]

Wed, 08 August 2001 12:16

andrew again
Messages: 2577
Registered: March 2000

Senior Member

there are 3 alternatives to consider:
1.) Primary key - consists of a constraint of type 'P'=primary and a unique index.
2.) Unique constraint - consists of a constraint of type 'U'=unique and a unique index.
3.) Unique index.

in 1 & 2 you can disable the constraint in which case the unique index gets dropped, but the constraint remains (in a DISBALED state). When you re-enable the constraint, the index is re-created. 1 always has NOT NULL as a requirement, 2 does not. 1 corresponds to a requirement from relational theory. A table can only have one PK, but could have several Unique constraints. Stick to 1 for primary keys.

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