Home Database Mysql Tutorial How to write foreign key constraints when creating a table in MySQL

How to write foreign key constraints when creating a table in MySQL

Apr 22, 2024 pm 07:52 PM
mysql

MySQL foreign key constraint syntax is: ALTER TABLE child_table ADD FOREIGN KEY (foreign_key_column) REFERENCES parent_table (primary_key_column), which ensures the integrity of the relationship between the two tables. The functions of foreign key constraints include: 1. Data integrity: the constrained child table reference must exist in the parent table; 2. Cascade update: automatically update all references when the parent table primary key value changes; 3. Cascade delete: the parent table primary key All references are automatically deleted when the value is deleted.

How to write foreign key constraints when creating a table in MySQL

MySQL foreign key constraint syntax

In MySQL, foreign key constraints are used to ensure that between two tables of relationship integrity. The syntax is as follows:

<code>ALTER TABLE child_table
ADD FOREIGN KEY (foreign_key_column)
REFERENCES parent_table (primary_key_column)</code>

Among them:

  • child_table: The table to which foreign key constraints need to be added.
  • foreign_key_column: The column in child_table that references the primary key of parent_table.
  • parent_table: The referenced table whose primary key is used to define constraints.
  • primary_key_column: The primary key column referenced in parent_table.

The role of foreign key constraints

Foreign key constraints help ensure the following:

  • Data integrity Properties: Prevent references from being inserted into the child table that do not exist in the parent table.
  • Cascade update: When the primary key value in the parent table changes, automatically update the values ​​in all referenced child tables.
  • Cascade deletion: When the primary key value in the parent table is deleted, all referenced values ​​in the child table are automatically deleted.

Example

Suppose we have two tables: orders and order_items:

<code>CREATE TABLE orders (
  order_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  customer_id INT NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (order_id)
);

CREATE TABLE order_items (
  item_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  order_id INT NOT NULL,
  product_id INT NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (item_id),
  FOREIGN KEY (order_id) REFERENCES orders (order_id)
);</code>

In this example, the foreign key constraint on the order_items table ensures that each order_id value exists in the orders table. This means that we cannot insert an order_id value into the order_items table that does not exist in the orders table.

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