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relational-databaseprimary-keyfunctional-dependencies

Functional Dependencies and Primary Keys


Question

Does a Primary Key functionally determine every other attribute in the table?

My thought

Surely it has to doesn't it? Isn't that the point of primary keys?


Solution

  • In a table that is at least in 1st normal form, the primary key determines every attribute in the table. As you say, that is the point of primary keys (and candidate keys in general).