FC0-U71 Data and Database Fundamentals Practice Question
In a relational database, a foreign key in the 'Enrollments' table references the primary key of the 'Students' table. What does this relationship primarily enforce?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Referential integrity
Foreign keys enforce referential integrity, ensuring that values in the foreign key column match a primary key value in the referenced table.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Referential integrity
Why this is correct
A foreign key constraint enforces referential integrity: every value in Enrollments' student key must match an existing Students primary key, or be null. This prevents orphaned enrolment rows and blocks deletion of a referenced student, directly satisfying the stem's requirement that the relationship enforce valid cross-table references.
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Entity integrity
Why it's wrong here
Entity integrity guarantees each row of a table is uniquely identified by a non-null primary key; it governs the Students table itself, not the cross-table reference. It would be the right answer if the question asked what the Students primary key enforces within that table.
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Normalization
Why it's wrong here
Normalization is a schema-design process that removes redundancy and update anomalies by decomposing tables into normal forms; it does not enforce any constraint at insert time. It would be correct if the stem asked how to restructure tables to eliminate duplicated student data.
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Domain integrity
Why it's wrong here
Domain integrity constrains a column's values to a permitted set or data type; a foreign key instead restricts the Enrollments rows to student IDs that exist in Students, which is referential integrity. Domain integrity would be correct when validating that, say, a grade column only accepts A–F.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on FC0-U71
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. In a relational database, which constraint ensures that a foreign key value matches an existing primary key value in the referenced table?
medium- ✓ A.Foreign key constraint
- B.Primary key constraint
- C.Check constraint
- D.Unique constraint
Why A: A foreign key constraint enforces referential integrity by requiring that any value in the foreign key column(s) must either match a primary key or unique key value in the referenced table, or be NULL. This ensures that relationships between tables remain consistent and prevents orphaned records. The constraint is defined on the child table and references the parent table's primary key (or a unique key).
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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