Candidate Vs. Super Key AND Prime vs. Non-Prime Attributes
Before Candidate Key Vs. For superkey and prime attributes vs. non-prime attributes, we must know about functional dependency and closure methods.
Candidate Key VS Super Key
A super-key is a set of attributes of a relation that are used to
- uniquely identify a tuple
- and determine all the attributes of a given relation.
. A candidate key is a minimal set of attributes necessary to
- uniquely identify a tuple.
- determines all the attributes of a given relation.
We can say that the candidate key is a minimal super-key.
Prime Vs. Non-Prime Attributes
Those attributes that appear in the candidate key set are Prime attributes.
Those attributes that do not occur in ANY candidate key are called non-prime attributes.
Example: 01
Suppose a relation (R)= {A, B, C, D} and FD = {A→B, B→C, C→D}. Then
As we see in the previous lecture, only the closure of attribute “A” can determine all attributes of a given relation. So, attribute “A” can be used as Candidate key
Keep in mind that the combination of the candidate key with some other attributes of a given relation can also determine all the attributes of a relation, but it is considered as a super key, not a candidate key.
So,
- Candidate Key of given relation = {A}
- Super Key of given Relation = {AB, AC, AD, ABC, ACD, ABCD}
- Prime attributes of a given relation are only A. Because only a single attribute, “A,” is a part of the candidate key set.
- Non-Prime attributes of the given relation are B,C, and D. Because B,C, and D attributes are not part of the candidate key set.
Example: 02
Suppose a Relation R= {A, B, C, D} and FD = {A→B, B→C, C→D, D→A}
Then
- Candidate Key of given relation = {A, B, C,D}
- Super Key of given Relation = {AB, BC, CD, ABC, BCD………..}
- Prime attributes of given relation = {A, B, C, D}. It is because all attributes of a given relation are part of the candidate key set.
- Non-Prime attributes of given relation = NULL. It is because there are attributes of the given relation which is not part of the candidate key set.