Is there any difference between Integrity and Constraint ?

For an EDMS application, there are two separate tasks for maintaining Data
Integrity and Constraint for the DB.
From my understanding, the Constraint is already includes the Referential
Integrity, is there any other meaning for Data Integrity ?
Your advice is sought.Hi,
You are correct; The data integrity itself is maintained using contraints.
Take a look into the below URL.
http://www.utexas.edu/its/windows/database/datamodeling/rm/rm5.html
Thanks
Hari
SQL Server MVP
"John" <John@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:OL3Ha9OyGHA.1340@.TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> For an EDMS application, there are two separate tasks for maintaining Data
> Integrity and Constraint for the DB.
> From my understanding, the Constraint is already includes the Referential
> Integrity, is there any other meaning for Data Integrity ?
> Your advice is sought.
>
>|||Data integrity is a broad concept, being a desirable characteristic of
any database. It relates to the consistency, accuracy and validity of
the data.
Referential integrity is only one aspect of integrity. Referential
integrity is usually enforced using foreign key constraints, but can
also be enforced (with less performance and/or safety) using triggers
or other mechanisms (for example on the application side).
The constraints are rules or restrictions that are enforced at the
database level. There are several types of constraints:
- primary key constraints (that ensure entity integrity)
- foreign key constraints (that ensure referential integrity)
- check constraints (that ensure domain integrity and some simple
business rules)
More complex business rules are usually enforced using triggers.
For more informations, see:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms184276.aspx
https://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/baict/baim/js/dbms/integrity.pdf
Razvan
John wrote:
> For an EDMS application, there are two separate tasks for maintaining Data
> Integrity and Constraint for the DB.
> From my understanding, the Constraint is already includes the Referential
> Integrity, is there any other meaning for Data Integrity ?
> Your advice is sought.|||Dear Razvan,
In other words, Data Integrity test may be testing of whether the data is
valid (for instance, within the valid range) .... while constraints test
may be checking the referential integrity ?
Thanks
"Razvan Socol" <rsocol@.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1156605409.337915.44370@.75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Data integrity is a broad concept, being a desirable characteristic of
> any database. It relates to the consistency, accuracy and validity of
> the data.
> Referential integrity is only one aspect of integrity. Referential
> integrity is usually enforced using foreign key constraints, but can
> also be enforced (with less performance and/or safety) using triggers
> or other mechanisms (for example on the application side).
> The constraints are rules or restrictions that are enforced at the
> database level. There are several types of constraints:
> - primary key constraints (that ensure entity integrity)
> - foreign key constraints (that ensure referential integrity)
> - check constraints (that ensure domain integrity and some simple
> business rules)
> More complex business rules are usually enforced using triggers.
> For more informations, see:
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms184276.aspx
> https://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/baict/baim/js/dbms/integrity.pdf
> Razvan
> John wrote:
>> For an EDMS application, there are two separate tasks for maintaining
>> Data
>> Integrity and Constraint for the DB.
>> From my understanding, the Constraint is already includes the Referential
>> Integrity, is there any other meaning for Data Integrity ?
>> Your advice is sought.
>|||The particular meanings of the terms "Data integrity test" and
"Constraints test" in a particular software may be different of what we
think about them. Please consult the user manual of that software or
contact the product support to get specific information.
Razvan
John wrote:
> Dear Razvan,
> In other words, Data Integrity test may be testing of whether the data is
> valid (for instance, within the valid range) .... while constraints test
> may be checking the referential integrity ?
> Thanks