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SQL Constraints

SQL constraints can be specified when creating or altering tables to restrict the type of data that can be inserted. The main types of constraints are: NOT NULL (prevents null values), UNIQUE (requires distinct values), PRIMARY KEY (combines NOT NULL and UNIQUE), FOREIGN KEY (links columns to a primary key in another table), CHECK (specifies conditions that column values must meet), and DEFAULT (provides a default value if none is specified). Constraints help maintain data integrity in the database.

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Rashika Choudhary
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173 views

SQL Constraints

SQL constraints can be specified when creating or altering tables to restrict the type of data that can be inserted. The main types of constraints are: NOT NULL (prevents null values), UNIQUE (requires distinct values), PRIMARY KEY (combines NOT NULL and UNIQUE), FOREIGN KEY (links columns to a primary key in another table), CHECK (specifies conditions that column values must meet), and DEFAULT (provides a default value if none is specified). Constraints help maintain data integrity in the database.

Uploaded by

Rashika Choudhary
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SQL Constraints

Constraints can be specified when the


table is created with the CREATE TABLE
statement, or after the table is created with
the ALTER TABLE statement.
SQL constraints are used to specify rules
for the data in a table.
Constraints are used to limit the type of
data that can go into a table. This ensures
the accuracy and reliability of the data in
the table.
CREATE TABLE table_name (
    column1 datatype constraint,
    column2 datatype constraint,
    column3 datatype constraint,
    ....
);
 NOT NULL - Ensures that a column cannot have a
NULL value
 UNIQUE - Ensures that all values in a column are
different
 PRIMARY KEY - A combination of a NOT
NULL and UNIQUE. Uniquely identifies each row
in a table
 FOREIGN KEY - Uniquely identifies a
row/record in another table
 CHECK - Ensures that all values in a column
satisfies a specific condition
NOT NULL
By default, a column can hold NULL
values.
The NOT NULL constraint enforces a
column to NOT accept NULL values.
By default, a column can hold NULL
values.
The NOT NULL constraint enforces a
column to NOT accept NULL values
Example:-
CREATE TABLE Employees09(
Emp_ID int NOT NULL,
LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
FirstName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
Deparment varchar(255) NOT NULL,
Acct_No varchar(255) NOT NULL
);
UNIQUE Constraint

The UNIQUE constraint ensures that all


values in a column are different.
Both the UNIQUE and PRIMARY KEY
constraints provide a guarantee for uniqueness
for a column or set of columns.
A PRIMARY KEY constraint automatically
has a UNIQUE constraint.
However, you can have many UNIQUE
constraints per table, but only one PRIMARY
KEY constraint per table.
EXAMPLE
CREATE TABLE Person20 (
ID int NOT NULL UNIQUE, LastName
varchar(255) NOT NULL,
FirstName varchar(255),
Age int
);
 Multiple Columns
CREATE TABLE Persons (
ID int NOT NULL,
LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
FirstName varchar(255),
Age int,CONSTRAINT UC_Person UNIQUE
(ID,LastName)
);
 With Alter Command

ALTER TABLE Persons


ADD UNIQUE (ID);
 Drop Unique Constraint

ALTER TABLE Persons


DROP CONSTRAINT UC_Person;
PRIMARY KEY Constraint

The PRIMARY KEY constraint uniquely


identifies each record in a database table.
Primary keys must contain UNIQUE
values, and cannot contain NULL values.
A table can have only one primary key,
which may consist of single or multiple
fields.
CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int
);
On Alter Table
ALTER TABLE Persons
ADD PRIMARY KEY (ID);
• Drop Primary Key
ALTER TABLE Persons
DROP PRIMARY KEY;
FOREIGN KEY Constraint

A FOREIGN KEY is a key used to link two


tables together.
A FOREIGN KEY is a field (or collection of
fields) in one table that refers to the PRIMARY
KEY in another table.
The table containing the foreign key is called the
child table, and the table containing the
candidate key is called the referenced or parent
table.
PersonID LastName FirstName Age
1 Hansen Ola 30
2 Svendson Tove 23
3 Pettersen Kari 20

OrderID OrderNumber PersonID


1 77895 3
2 44678 3
3 22456 2
4 24562 1
CREATE TABLE Orders (
    OrderID int NOT NULL,
    OrderNumber int NOT NULL,
    PersonID int,
    PRIMARY KEY (OrderID),
    FOREIGN KEY (PersonID) REFEREN
CES Persons(PersonID)
);
CHECK Constraint

The CHECK constraint is used to limit the


value range that can be placed in a column.
If you define a CHECK constraint on a
single column it allows only certain values
for this column.
If you define a CHECK constraint on a
table it can limit the values in certain
columns based on values in other columns
in the row.
 CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int CHECK (Age>=18)
);
 CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int,
    City varchar(255),
    CONSTRAINT CHK_Person CHECK (Age>=18 AN
D City='Sandnes')
);
With Alter
ALTER TABLE Persons
ADD CONSTRAINT CHK_PersonAge CHECK (
Age>=18 AND City='Sandnes');
Drop
ALTER TABLE Persons
DROP CONSTRAINT CHK_PersonAge;
DEFAULT Constraint

The DEFAULT constraint is used to provide


a default value for a column.
The default value will be added to all new
records IF no other value is specified.
Example: CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int,
    City varchar(255) DEFAULT 'Sandnes'
);
With Alter
ALTER TABLE Persons
MODIFY City DEFAULT 'Sandnes';

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