Referential Integrity

Referential integrity is a principle in databases that ensures relationships between tables remain consistent. For example, if one table lists customers and another lists their orders, referential integrity makes sure that each order is linked to a valid customer. If a customer's record is deleted, the database will prevent any related orders from being left without a valid customer, thus maintaining accuracy and preventing data errors. This concept is crucial for reliable data management, ensuring that the connections between data elements are valid and meaningful.