Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What is the term for a field containing redundant data that links two or more tables in a relational database?

1. Key

2. Logic

3. Memo

4. Note

The correct answer is: Key

In the context of relational databases, a field that contains redundant data linking two or more tables is referred to as a "key." Specifically, this could refer to either a primary key or a foreign key. A primary key uniquely identifies each record in a table, while a foreign key establishes a relationship between two tables by referencing the primary key of another table. The concept of keys is fundamental to database design, as it helps maintain data integrity and ensures that relationships between different data entities are clearly defined. When redundant data is present within the linking field, it allows for the correct association of records across tables, effectively creating connections that enable complex queries and data retrieval. The other terms listed—such as logic, memo, and note—do not pertain to this specific function in relational databases. Logic typically refers to principles of reasoning, memo refers to a brief written message for internal use, and note generally means a brief record of information. None of these terms describe a field used to create relationships between tables in a database.