SQL SERVER – Primary Key Constraints and Unique Key Constraints

Primary Key:
Primary Key enforces uniqueness of the column on which they are defined. Primary Key creates a clustered index on the column. Primary Key does not allow Nulls.

Create table with Primary Key:
CREATE TABLE Authors (
AuthorID INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
Name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL
)
GO

Alter table with Primary Key:
ALTER TABLE Authors
ADD CONSTRAINT pk_authors PRIMARY KEY (AuthorID)
GO

Unique Key:
Unique Key enforces uniqueness of the column on which they are defined. Unique Key creates a non-clustered index on the column. Unique Key allows only one NULL Value.

Alter table to add unique constraint to column:
ALTER TABLE Authors ADD CONSTRAINT IX_Authors_Name UNIQUE(Name)
GO

Tags: Primary key, Primary key constraints, SQL Server, Unique key, Unique Key Constraints