How to Use Constraints in SQL Server Like a Pro

SQL Server Constraints

Constraints in SQL Server are rules and restrictions applied on a column or table so unwanted data can't be inserted into tables. Constraints maintain the data integrity and accuracy in the table. This ensures the accuracy and reliability of the data in the database. We can create constraints on single or multiple columns of any table.

Constraints can be classified into the following two types.

Column Types Constraints

Definitions of these types of constraints are given when the table is created.

Create Table My_Constraint  
(  
IID int NOT NULL,  
Salary int CHECK(Salary>5000)  
) 

Table Types Constraints

Definitions of these types of constraints are given after the creation of the table using the Alter Command.

1. Alter Table My_Cosntraint
2. Add constraint Check_Constraint Check(Age>50)

SQL Server contains the following 6 types of constraints

• Not Null Constraint
• Check Constraint
• Default Constraint
• Unique Constraint
• Primary Constraint
• Foreign Constraint

Let us understand each constraint briefly.

Not Null Constraint

A Not null constraint restricts the insertion of null values into a column. If we are using a Not Null Constraint for a column, then we cannot ignore the value of this column during an insert of data into the table.

Column Level

Syntax

CREATE TABLE Table_Name  
(  
   Column_Name Datatype CONSTRAINT Constraint_Name NOT NULL,  
); 

Example

Create Table My_Constraint  
(  
   IID int NOT NULL,  
   Name nvarchar(50) CONSTRAINT Cons_NotNull not null,  
   Age int Not Null,  
) 

Table Level

Syntax

ALTER TABLE Table_Name  
ALTER COLUMN Column_Name Datatype NOT NULL 

Example

Alter Table My_Constraint  
Alter Column IId int Not Null 

Without SQL Command

We can also create a Not Null constraint in Microsoft SQL Server without the execution of a SQL query.

First, right-click on the table and select and click on the design option. Now check all the columns in the "Allow Nulls" option that should have a Null Value.

Figure 1 - Table

Check Constraint

A Check constraint checks for a specific condition before inserting data into a table. If the data passes all the Check constraints, then the data will be inserted into the table; otherwise, the data for insertion will be discarded. The CHECK constraint ensures that all values in a column satisfy certain conditions.

Column Level

Syntax

Create Table Table_Name  
(  
   Column_Name Datatype Constraint Constraint_Name Check(Condition)  
) 

Example

Create Table Constraint_ 
(  
   IId int Constraint Constraint_Name Check(IId>100)  
)

Table Level

Syntax

Alter Table Table_Name  
Add Constraint Constraint_Name Check(Condition) 

Example

Alter table Constraint_ 
Add constraint Cons_Name Check(IId>150) 

Without SQL Command

First, go to Table Design, right-click on the Column_Name containing a check constraint, and select the "Check Constraint" option. Then, a new window will be shown. In this window, add a constraint and define it in the Expression Field.

Figure 2 - Check Constraint

Figure 3 - Select Check Constraint

Default Constraint

Specifies a default value when a value is not specified for this column. If in an insertion query, any value is not specified for this column, then the default value will be inserted into the column.

Column Level

Syntax

Create Table Table_Name  
(  
   Column_Name DataType Constraint Constraint_Name Default(Value),  
) 

Example

Create Table My_Table1  
(  
   IId int default(1500),  
   Name Nvarchar(50)Constraint Name_Default Default('Pankaj'),  
   Age Int,  
   Salary Int Default(100)  
) 

Table Level

Syntax

Alter Table Tabel_Name  
Add Constraint Constraint_Name Default(Value) for[Column_Name] 

Example

Alter Table My_Table1 
Add Constraint cons_Default Default(40) for[Age] 

Without SQL Command

Go to Table Design, click on the specific column name that should have a default value, and go to the column Property and provide the default value.

Create Table Table_Name  
(  
   Column_Name Datatype Constraint Constraint_Name Unique  
) 

Create Table MY_Tab  
(  
   IId int constraint Unique_Cons Unique ,  
   Name nvarchar(50)  
) 

Alter Table_Name  
Add Constraint Constraint_Name Unique(Column_Name) 

Alter Table My_Tab 
Add Constraint Unique_Cons_ Unique(Name) 

Create Table Table_Name  
(  
   Column_Name Datatype Constraint Constraint_Name Primary Key,  
) 

Create Table Employee  
(  
   IId int constraint Const_primary_IId primary key,  
   Name nvarchar(50)  
) 

Alter Table Table_Name  
Add constraint Constraint_Name Primary Key(Column_Name) 

Alter Table Employee
Add constraint Constraint_Name Primary Key(IId)  

Create Table Table_Name  
(  
   Column_Name Datatype Constraint Constraint_Name References Reference_Table_Name(Reference_Column_Name)  
) 

Create Table Employee_  
(  
   IId int constraint Cons_Reference References My_Constraint(IId),  
   Age int,  
   Salary int  
) 

ALTER TABLE Table_Name  
ADD CONSTRAINT Constraint_Name FOREIGN KEY(Column_Name)  
REFERENCES Reference_Table (Column_Name) 

ALTER TABLE Employee_ 
ADD CONSTRAINT Cons_Emp_Foreign FOREIGN KEY(IId)  
REFERENCES My_Constraint(IId)