Using SQL FOREIGN KEY Constraint

SQL FOREIGN KEY Constraint: Main Tips

• A FOREIGN KEY based in table links to a PRIMARY KEY based on other tables.
• The FOREIGN KEY constraint prevents actions that could destroy links between tables.
• The FOREIGN KEY constraint disallow invalid data from being inserted into the foreign key column.

Demo Database

This is demo example from the "Developers" table in the database:

This is demo example from the "Orders" table in the database:

SQL FOREIGN KEY Constraint: Explained

The "DeveloperID" column in the "Orders" table links to the "DeveloperID" column in the "Developers" table.

The "DeveloperID" column in the "Developers" table is interpreted as the PRIMARY KEY in the "Developers" table.

The "DeveloperID" column in the "Orders" table is interpreted as a FOREIGN KEY in the "Orders" table.

SQL FOREIGN KEY Constraint on CREATE TABLE

Use this SQL syntax to build a FOREIGN KEY on the "DeveloperID" column when "Orders" table already exists:

MySQL:

CREATE TABLE Orders (
    OrderID int NOT NULL,
    DeveloperID int,
    PRIMARY KEY (OrderID),
    FOREIGN KEY (DeveloperID) REFERENCES Developers(DeveloperID)
);

SQL Server / MS Access / Oracle:

CREATE TABLE Orders (
    OrderID int NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
    DeveloperID int FOREIGN KEY REFERENCES Developers(DeveloperID)
);

Use this SQL syntax to allow a FOREIGN KEY constraint to be named, and a FOREIGN KEY constraint on various columns to be defined:

MySQL / SQL Server / MS Access / Oracle:

CREATE TABLE Orders (
    OrderID int NOT NULL,
    DeveloperID int,
    PRIMARY KEY (OrderID),
    CONSTRAINT FK_DeveloperOrder FOREIGN KEY (DeveloperID)
    REFERENCES Developers(DeveloperID)
);

SQL FOREIGN KEY Constraint on ALTER TABLE

Use this SQL syntax to build a FOREIGN KEY constraint on the "DeveloperID" column when the "Orders" table already exists:

MySQL / SQL Server / MS Access / Oracle:

ALTER TABLE Orders
ADD FOREIGN KEY (DeveloperID) REFERENCES Developers(DeveloperID);

Use this SQL syntax to allow a FOREIGN KEY constraint to be named, and a FOREIGN KEY constraint on various columns to be defined:

MySQL / SQL Server / MS Access / Oracle:

ALTER TABLE Orders
ADD CONSTRAINT FK_DeveloperOrder
FOREIGN KEY (DeveloperID) REFERENCES Developers(DeveloperID);

To DROP a FOREIGN KEY Constraint

Use this SQL syntax, to drop a FOREIGN KEY constraint.

MySQL:

ALTER TABLE Orders
DROP FOREIGN KEY FK_DeveloperOrder;

SQL Server / MS Access / Oracle:

ALTER TABLE Orders
DROP CONSTRAINT FK_DeveloperOrder;