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Difference between REFERENCES and FOREIGN KEY

Hello
When we create a table, what is the difference between
the REFERENCE constraint on column and the FOREIGN KEY constraint on table ?

I guess that the FOREIGN KEY constraint assures us that the referenced column is
a PRIMARY KEY in an another table.
You can reference any colums with the REFERENCE constraint on column.

Am I right?

If no, what is the difference?

If yes, if I reference a foreign key in the column constraint, am I doing
something wrong?
Here's the doc about creating table:
CREATE TABLE

Creates a new table

Synopsis

CREATE [ TEMPORARY | TEMP ] TABLE table_name (
{ column_name type [ column_constrai nt [ ... ] ]
| table_constrain t } [, ... ]
) [ INHERITS ( inherited_table [, ... ] ) ]

where column_constrai nt can be:
[ CONSTRAINT constraint_name ]
{ NOT NULL | NULL | UNIQUE | PRIMARY KEY | DEFAULT value | CHECK (condition)
|
REFERENCES table [ ( column ) ] [ MATCH FULL | MATCH PARTIAL ]
[ ON DELETE action ] [ ON UPDATE action ]
[ DEFERRABLE | NOT DEFERRABLE ] [ INITIALLY DEFERRED | INITIALLY IMMEDIATE
]
}

and table_constrain t can be:
[ CONSTRAINT constraint_name ]
{ UNIQUE ( column_name [, ... ] ) |
PRIMARY KEY ( column_name [, ... ] ) |
CHECK ( condition ) |
FOREIGN KEY ( column_name [, ... ] ) REFERENCES table [ ( column [, ... ] )
]
[ MATCH FULL | MATCH PARTIAL ] [ ON DELETE action ] [ ON UPDATE action ]
[ DEFERRABLE | NOT DEFERRABLE ] [ INITIALLY DEFERRED | INITIALLY IMMEDIATE ] }

Thank you very much

Luc

Jul 19 '05 #1
0 6406

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