An alternate key in database table is also called

Answer: Candidate key

Candidate key: A minimal set of attributes that can uniquely identify each row in a table.

Alternate key: A candidate key that was not selected as the table's primary key. It can still uniquely identify rows but is an 'alternate' choice.

• Example: A table has attributes (EmployeeID, Email, SSN). If EmployeeID is chosen as the primary key, Email and SSN (if each is unique) are alternate keys.

• Contrast with related terms:

  Primary key: the chosen candidate key used to identify rows.

  Super key: any set of attributes that uniquely identifies rows (not necessarily minimal).

  Foreign key: an attribute that references the primary key of another table to enforce referential integrity.