Re: Is a primary key always desired?

From: Sybrand Bakker <gooiditweg_at_sybrandb.demon.nl>
Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2003 23:27:08 +0200
Message-ID: <v8qrnv469mfn2mk7rvp4cmrv587a0euu68@4ax.com>

On Fri, 03 Oct 2003 21:08:34 GMT, "Randy Harris" <randy_at_SpamFree.com> wrote:

>Should every table in an Oracle database have a Primary Key? What about a
>very small table that is used for a very short list of values?
>

A table is an implementation of a set. According to relationel theory sets *can't* have duplicates.
If you leave out the primary key you won't have any mechanisms to protect you against someone, including yourself, entering a duplicate. Experience learns that your org is going to pay for this.

--
Sybrand Bakker, Senior Oracle DBA

Received on Fri Oct 03 2003 - 16:27:08 CDT