Referential integrity enforces data consistency from "summary" of SQL and Relational Theory by C. Date
Referential integrity is a critical concept in database management that plays a key role in maintaining data consistency within a relational database system. The basic idea behind referential integrity is to ensure that relationships between tables are always valid, meaning that any foreign key value in one table must always correspond to a primary key value in another table. This prevents orphaned records or mismatched data that can lead to inconsistencies and errors in the database. By enforcing referential integrity, a database management system can guarantee that the data remains accurate and reliable at all times. This is achieved through the use of constraints, which are rules that define the relationships between tables and control the actions that can be taken on the data. For example, a referential integrity constraint can specify that a foreign key value in a child table must always match a primary key value in a parent table, and that any attempts to delete or update a primary key value will be restricted if it would violate this relationship. The enforcement of referential integrity helps to maintain the integrity of the data by preventing operations that would result in inconsistent or invalid data. For instance, if a record in a parent table is deleted, referential integrity constraints can ensure that any related records in child tables are also deleted or updated accordingly to maintain the relationship between them. Similarly, if a primary key value is updated, referential integrity constraints can ensure that any foreign key values that reference it are also updated to reflect the change.- Referential integrity plays a crucial role in ensuring data consistency within a relational database system by enforcing the relationships between tables and preventing actions that would compromise the integrity of the data. By using constraints to define and enforce these relationships, the database management system can maintain the accuracy and reliability of the data, thereby ensuring that users can trust the information stored in the database.
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