SQL Integrity Constraints

Integrity Constraints are used to apply business rules for the database tables.
The constraints available in SQL are Foreign Key, Not Null, ni!ue, Chec", pri#ary "ey.
Constraints can be defined in two ways
$% The constraints can be specified i##ediately after the colu#n definition. This is called
colu#n&level definition.
'% The constraints can be specified after all the colu#ns are defined. This is called table&level
definition.
$% SQL Primary key:
This constraint defines a colu#n or co#bination of colu#ns (hich uni!uely identifies each ro(
in the table.
Syntax to define a Primary key at column level:
colu#n na#e datatype )C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. /+I0,+1 K21
Syntax to define a Primary key at table level:
)C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. /+I0,+1 K21 3colu#n-na#e$,colu#n-na#e',..%
colu#n-na#e$, colu#n-na#e' are the na#es of the colu#ns (hich define the pri#ary Key.
The synta4 (ithin the brac"et i.e. )C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. is optional.
For 24a#ple5 To create an e#ployee table (ith /ri#ary Key constraint, the !uery (ould be li"e.
/ri#ary Key at colu#n level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%
%9
or
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% C*NST+,INT e#p-id-p" /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%
%9
/ri#ary Key at colu#n level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37%,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%,
C*NST+,INT e#p-id-p" /+I0,+1 K21 3id%
%9
/ri#ary Key at table level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37%, N*T NLL,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%,
,LT2+ T,6L2 e#ployee ,:: C*NST+,INT /K-20/L*122-I: /+I0,+1 K21 3id%
%9
'% SQL Foreign "ey or +eferential Integrity 5
This constraint identifies any colu#n referencing the /+I0,+1 K21 in another table. It
establishes a relationship bet(een t(o colu#ns in the sa#e table or bet(een different tables. For
a colu#n to be defined as a Foreign Key, it should be a defined as a /ri#ary Key in the table
(hich it is referring. *ne or #ore colu#ns can be defined as Foreign "ey.
Synta4 to define a Foreign "ey at colu#n level5
)C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. +2F2+2NC2S +eferenced-Table-na#e3colu#n-na#e%
Synta4 to define a Foreign "ey at table level5
)C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. F*+2I;N K213colu#n-na#e% +2F2+2NC2S
referenced-table-na#e3colu#n-na#e%9
For 24a#ple5
$% Lets use the <product< table and <order-ite#s<.
Foreign Key at colu#n level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 product
3 product-id nu#ber37% C*NST+,INT pd-id-p" /+I0,+1 K21,
product-na#e char3'8%,
supplier-na#e char3'8%,
unit-price nu#ber3$8%
%9
C+2,T2 T,6L2 order-ite#s
3 order-id nu#ber37% C*NST+,INT od-id-p" /+I0,+1 K21,
product-id nu#ber37% C*NST+,INT pd-id-f" +2F2+2NC2S, product3product-id%,
product-na#e char3'8%,
supplier-na#e char3'8%,
unit-price nu#ber3$8%
%9
Foreign Key at table level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 order-ite#s
3 order-id nu#ber37% ,
product-id nu#ber37%,
product-na#e char3'8%,
supplier-na#e char3'8%,
unit-price nu#ber3$8%
C*NST+,INT od-id-p" /+I0,+1 K213order-id%,
C*NST+,INT pd-id-f" F*+2I;N K213product-id% +2F2+2NC2S product3product-id%
%9
'% If the e#ployee table has a =#gr-id= i.e, #anager id as a foreign "ey (hich references pri#ary
"ey =id= (ithin the sa#e table, the !uery (ould be li"e,
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
#gr-id nu#ber37% +2F2+2NC2S e#ployee3id%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%
%9
>% SQL Not Null Constraint 5
This constraint ensures all ro(s in the table contain a definite value for the colu#n (hich is
specified as not null. ?hich #eans a null value is not allo(ed.
Synta4 to define a Not Null constraint5
)C*NST+,INT constraint na#e. N*T NLL
For 24a#ple5 To create a e#ployee table (ith Null value, the !uery (ould be li"e
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37%,
na#e char3'8% C*NST+,INT n#-nn N*T NLL,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%
%9
@% SQL ni!ue Key5
This constraint ensures that a colu#n or a group of colu#ns in each ro( have a distinct value. ,
colu#n3s% can have a null value but the values cannot be duplicated.
Synta4 to define a ni!ue "ey at colu#n level5
)C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. NIQ2
Synta4 to define a ni!ue "ey at table level5
)C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. NIQ23colu#n-na#e%
For 24a#ple5 To create an e#ployee table (ith ni!ue "ey, the !uery (ould be li"e,
ni!ue Key at colu#n level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8% NIQ2
%9
or
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8% C*NST+,INT loc-un NIQ2
%9
ni!ue Key at table level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%,
C*NST+,INT loc-un NIQ23location%
%9
7% SQL Chec" Constraint 5
This constraint defines a business rule on a colu#n. ,ll the ro(s #ust satisfy this rule. The
constraint can be applied for a single colu#n or a group of colu#ns.
Synta4 to define a Chec" constraint5
)C*NST+,INT constraint-na#e. CA2CK 3condition%
For 24a#ple5 In the e#ployee table to select the gender of a person, the !uery (ould be li"e
Chec" Constraint at colu#n level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
gender char3$% CA2CK 3gender in 3=0=,=F=%%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%
%9
Chec" Constraint at table level5
C+2,T2 T,6L2 e#ployee
3 id nu#ber37% /+I0,+1 K21,
na#e char3'8%,
dept char3$8%,
age nu#ber3'%,
gender char3$%,
salary nu#ber3$8%,
location char3$8%,
C*NST+,INT gender-c" CA2CK 3gender in 3=0=,=F=%%
%9