Non-Identifying Relationships

Non-Identifying Relationships
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Relationships exist in a database, and they are used to indicate an association or link between different entities or within the same entity. Database relationships are represented as either one or more attributes of a foreign key. Some of the most common relationships created in the database include non-identifying and identifying relationships. Non-identifying relationship occurs between two entities when the child entity is not dependent on the parent entity for identification, and it can exist on its own. Therefore, in this instance, identification of the child entity is not based on the association with the parent entity. In the case of a non-identifying relationship, multiple instances of a child entity can be related to a single instance of a parent entity. Two types of non-identifying relationships can be created in a database that includes optional non-identifying and mandatory non-identifying relationships (Sherman, 2014).
Identifying relationships are also prevalent in databases and occurs between two entities when the identity of the child entity is based on its association to the parent entity. In identifying relationships, the identity of the child entity depends on the parent entity and cannot exist without it. Therefore, multiple instances of the child entity are related to a single instance of a parent entity under the identifying relationship (Erwin, 2020). Despite both occurring in databases, non-identifying and identifying relationships have significant differences in their functions and occurrence.

Non-identifying relationship

Identifying relationship

Parent-child entity dependency

The child entity is not dependent on parent entity

The child entity is dependent on the parent entity

Child entity identity

Identity of child entity is not associated with the parent entity

Identity of child is associated with the parent entity

Foreign Key

It can change

It never changes as it is pa...