In the formal relational model, what are the standard terms, in this order,…
2026
In the formal relational model, what are the standard terms, in this order, for (i) one row of a relation and (ii) one named column of that relation?
Answer: B. Tuple, Attribute — ConceptIn the relational model, a relation is defined over named attributes and contains tuples. A tuple groups one value for each attribute, while an…
- A.
Field, Record
- B.
Tuple, Attribute
- C.
Attribute, Tuple
- D.
Key, Value
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Correct answer: B
Concept
In the relational model, a relation is defined over named attributes and contains tuples. A tuple groups one value for each attribute, while an attribute names a property and specifies the domain of its values.
Application
When the relation is displayed as a table, each horizontal row is one tuple, and each named vertical column corresponds to one attribute.
Contrast
Field, Record uses common implementation-oriented vocabulary and places those labels in the opposite semantic order for this prompt.
Attribute, Tuple reverses the formal row-to-column order requested in the stem.
Key, Value names identification constraints and stored data items rather than the two structural components requested.
Cross-check
A relation’s cardinality counts its tuples, while its degree counts its attributes; this independently confirms the row-to-tuple and column-to-attribute mapping.
Therefore, the terms in the requested order are Tuple, Attribute.