In SQL and relational database design in general, an important concept is the identification of unique rows in a table. A surrogate key is one method for achieving this.

Understanding what surrogate keys are, and how they differ from natural keys, is crucial for database administrators, developers, and anyone involved in data modeling or management.

In this article we’ll explore what the surrogate key is, how it differs from the natural key, and examples of implementing it in SQL.

In SQL databases, triggers can play a significant role in automating responses to specific events within a database. Whether we’re dealing with data validation, logging changes, or enforcing business rules, SQL triggers can be a handy tool to ensure that certain actions are taken automatically when certain conditions are met.

This article covers what SQL triggers are, how they work, and provides an example to illustrate their use.

In relational database design, the concept of a “key” is fundamental. Keys are essential for uniquely identifying records in a table, ensuring data integrity, and facilitating efficient data retrieval. Among the different types of keys used in SQL, the natural key is one that often sparks discussion among database designers, especially when compared with the surrogate key.

Let’s explore the concept of a natural key, its advantages and disadvantages, and look at a practical example to illustrate its use.

While the primary key is almost certainly the most discussed key in SQL, there are other types of keys that we shouldn’t forget. One such key is the alternate key.

In this article, we’ll look at the concept of the alternate key in SQL.