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Functional Dependency

The document discusses functional dependencies in databases. Functional dependencies specify relationships between attribute sets where one attribute determines the value of another. The document defines different types of functional dependencies and provides examples. It also covers Armstrong's axioms and applications of functional dependencies like data normalization and query optimization.

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Mani Mala
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27 views6 pages

Functional Dependency

The document discusses functional dependencies in databases. Functional dependencies specify relationships between attribute sets where one attribute determines the value of another. The document defines different types of functional dependencies and provides examples. It also covers Armstrong's axioms and applications of functional dependencies like data normalization and query optimization.

Uploaded by

Mani Mala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Functional Dependency

A functional dependency A->B in a relation holds if two tuples having the same
value of attribute A also have the same value for attribute B

Types of Functional dependencies in DBMS


In a relational database management, functional dependency is a concept that
specifies the relationship between two sets of attributes where one attribute
determines the value of another attribute. It is denoted as X → Y, where the
attribute set on the left side of the arrow, X is called Determinant, and Y is
called the Dependent.
roll_no name dept_name dept_building

42 abc CO A4

43 pqr IT A3

44 xyz CO A4

45 xyz IT A3

46 mno EC B2

47 jkl ME B2

From the above table we can conclude some valid functional dependencies:
 roll_no → { name, dept_name, dept_building },→ Here, roll_no can
determine values of fields name, dept_name and dept_building, hence a
valid Functional dependency
 roll_no → dept_name , Since, roll_no can determine whole set of {name,
dept_name, dept_building}, it can determine its subset dept_name also.
 dept_name → dept_building , Dept_name can identify the dept_building
accurately, since departments with different dept_name will also have a
different dept_building
 More valid functional dependencies: roll_no → name, {roll_no, name} ⇢
{dept_name, dept_building}, etc.
Here are some invalid functional dependencies:
 name → dept_name Students with the same name can have different
dept_name, hence this is not a valid functional dependency.
 dept_building → dept_name There can be multiple departments in the
same building. Example, in the above table departments ME and EC are in
the same building B2, hence dept_building → dept_name is an invalid
functional dependency.
 More invalid functional dependencies: name → roll_no, {name, dept_name}
→ roll_no, dept_building → roll_no, etc.
Armstrong’s axioms/properties of functional dependencies:
1. Reflexivity: If Y is a subset of X, then X→Y holds by reflexivity rule
Example, {roll_no, name} → name is valid.
2. Augmentation: If X → Y is a valid dependency, then XZ → YZ is also valid by
the augmentation rule.
Example, {roll_no, name} → dept_building is valid, hence {roll_no, name,
dept_name} → {dept_building, dept_name} is also valid.
3. Transitivity: If X → Y and Y → Z are both valid dependencies, then X→Z is
also valid by the Transitivity rule.
Example, roll_no → dept_name & dept_name → dept_building, then roll_no
→ dept_building is also valid.
Types of Functional Dependencies in DBMS
1. Trivial functional dependency
2. Non-Trivial functional dependency
3. Multivalued functional dependency
4. Transitive functional dependency
1. Trivial Functional Dependency
In Trivial Functional Dependency , a dependent is always a subset of the
determinant. i.e. If X → Y and Y is the subset of X, then it is called trivial
functional dependency
Example:
roll_n
o name age

42 abc 17

43 pqr 18
roll_n
o name age

44 xyz 18

Here, {roll_no, name} → name is a trivial functional dependency, since the


dependent name is a subset of determinant set {roll_no,
name}. Similarly, roll_no → roll_no is also an example of trivial functional
dependency.
2. Non-trivial Functional Dependency
In Non-trivial functional dependency , the dependent is strictly not a subset of
the determinant. i.e. If X → Y and Y is not a subset of X , then it is called Non-
trivial functional dependency.
Example:
roll_n
o name age

42 abc 17

43 pqr 18

44 xyz 18

Here, roll_no → name is a non-trivial functional dependency, since the


dependent name is not a subset of determinant roll_no. Similarly, {roll_no,
name} → age is also a non-trivial functional dependency, since age is not a
subset of {roll_no, name}

3. Multivalued Functional Dependency


In Multivalued functional dependency, entities of the dependent set are not
dependent on each other. i.e. If a → {b, c} and there exists no functional
dependency between b and c, then it is called a multivalued functional
dependency.
For example,
roll_no name age

42 abc 17

43 pqr 18

44 xyz 18

45 abc 19

Here, roll_no → {name, age} is a multivalued functional dependency, since the


dependents name & age are not dependent on each other(i.e. name →
age or age → name doesn’t exist !)
4. Transitive Functional Dependency
In transitive functional dependency, dependent is indirectly dependent on
determinant. i.e. If a → b & b → c, then according to axiom of transitivity, a →
c. This is a transitive functional dependency.
For example,
nam
enrol_no e dept building_no

42 abc CO 4

43 pqr EC 2

44 xyz IT 1

45 abc EC 2

Here, enrol_no → dept and dept → building_no. Hence, according to the


axiom of transitivity, enrol_no → building_no is a valid functional dependency.
This is an indirect functional dependency, hence called Transitive functional
dependency.
5. Fully Functional Dependency
In full functional dependency an attribute or a set of attributes uniquely
determines another attribute or set of attributes. If a relation R has attributes X,
Y, Z with the dependencies X->Y and X->Z which states that those
dependencies are fully functional.
6. Partial Functional Dependency
In partial functional dependency a non key attribute depends on a part of the
composite key, rather than the whole key. If a relation R has attributes X, Y, Z
where X and Y are the composite key and Z is non key attribute. Then X->Z is a
partial functional dependency in RBDMS.
Advantages of Functional Dependencies
Functional dependencies having numerous applications in the field of database
management system. Here are some applications listed below:

1. Data Normalization

Data normalization is the process of organizing data in a database in order to


minimize redundancy and increase data integrity. Functional dependencies play
an important part in data normalization. With the help of functional
dependencies we are able to identify the primary key, candidate key in a table
which in turns helps in normalization.

2. Query Optimization

With the help of functional dependencies we are able to decide the connectivity
between the tables and the necessary attributes need to be projected to retrieve
the required data from the tables. This helps in query optimization and improves
performance.

3. Consistency of Data

Functional dependencies ensures the consistency of the data by removing any


redundancies or inconsistencies that may exist in the data. Functional
dependency ensures that the changes made in one attribute does not affect
inconsistency in another set of attributes thus it maintains the consistency of the
data in database.
4. Data Quality Improvement

Functional dependencies ensure that the data in the database to be accurate,


complete and updated. This helps to improve the overall quality of the data, as
well as it eliminates errors and inaccuracies that might occur during data
analysis and decision making, thus functional dependency helps in improving
the quality of data in database.

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