PostgreSQL Constraints
Constraint enforces a restriction on data to be stored in a column. If a user attempts to store data in a column that would violate a constraint, an error will be raised.
In PostgreSQL, constraints can be defined in two ways:
- Constraints can be defined as part of the definition of an individual column. They are called Inline Constraints. A column can have multiple constraints.
- Constraints can be specified as part of the table definition.
Not Null Constraint:
The NOT NULL constraint restricts the NULL value in the column.
Unique Constraint
Unique constraint enforces unique values for a column or group of columns across the whole table.
Primary Key Constraint
Primary key is a column or group of columns that uniquely identify a row in a table.
It is a combination of NOT NULL constraint and UNIQUE constraint.
Foreign Key Constraint
The foreign key defines a relationship between the two tables and enforces referential integrity in PostgreSQL. A Foreign key is a column or group of columns in one table that references one or more columns from another table.
Check constraint
Check constraint is a constraint that allows specifying the conditions that the values of columns must meet.
Learn about the NOT NULL constraint in the next chapter.