A minimal attribute or minimal set of attributes that can uniquely identify…

2023

A minimal attribute or minimal set of attributes that can uniquely identify each tuple in a table, and from which a primary key may be chosen, is known as:

  1. A.

    Primary Key

  2. B.

    Foreign Key

  3. C.

    Alternate Key

  4. D.

    Candidate Key

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Correct answer: D

A Candidate Key is a minimal attribute or minimal set of attributes that can uniquely identify each tuple (row) in a table. Minimal means that no proper subset of the key should still be able to uniquely identify the tuple.

A table can have multiple candidate keys. One candidate key is selected as the Primary Key, and the remaining candidate keys are called Alternate Keys. A Foreign Key references a key in another table and does not serve as the general unique identifier for tuples in its own table.

Therefore, option D is correct: Candidate Key.

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