Tag Archives: Unique Key Vs Primary Key

Difference Between Primary Key and Unique Key In Sql Server

Both PRIMARY KEY and UNIQUE KEY enforces the Uniqueness of the values (i.e. avoids duplicate values) on the column[s] on which it is defined.  Also these key’s can Uniquely identify each row in database table.

[ALSO READ] Difference Between Sql Server VARCHAR and NVARCHAR Data Type

Below table lists out the major difference between PRIMARY KEY and UNIQUE KEY:

PRIMARY KEY UNIQUE KEY
NULL It doesn’t allow Null values.
Because of this we refer
PRIMARY KEY = UNIQUE KEY + Not Null CONSTRAINT
Allows Null value. But only one Null value.
INDEX By default it adds a clustered index By default it adds a UNIQUE non-clustered index
LIMIT A table can have only one PRIMARY KEY Column[s] A table can have more than one UNIQUE Key Column[s]
CREATE SYNTAX Below is the sample example for defining a single column as a PRIMARY KEY column while creating a table:CREATE TABLE dbo.Customer
(
Id INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
FirstName VARCHAR(100),
LastName VARCHAR(100),
City VARCHAR(50)
)

Below is the Sample example for defining multiple columns as PRIMARY KEY. It also shows how we can give name for the PRIMARY KEY:

CREATE TABLE dbo.Customer
(
Id INT NOT NULL,
FirstName VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
LastName VARCHAR(100),
City VARCHAR(50),
CONSTRAINT PK_CUSTOMER PRIMARY KEY (Id,FirstName)
)

Below is the sample example for defining a single column as a UNIQUE KEY column while creating a table:CREATE TABLE dbo.Customer
(
Id INT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
FirstName VARCHAR(100),
LastName VARCHAR(100),
City VARCHAR(50)
)

Below is the Sample example for defining multiple columns as UNIQUE KEY. It also shows how we can give name for the UNIQUE KEY:

CREATE TABLE dbo.Customer
(
Id INT NOT NULL,
FirstName VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
LastName VARCHAR(100),
City VARCHAR(50),
CONSTRAINT UK_CUSTOMER UNIQUE (Id,FirstName)
)

ALTER SYNTAX Below is the Syntax for adding PRIMARY KEY CONSTRAINT on a column when the table is already created and doesn’t have any primary key:ALTER TABLE dbo.Customer
ADD CONSTRAINT PK_CUSTOMER PRIMARY KEY (Id)
Below is the Syntax for adding UNIQUE KEY CONSTRAINT on a column when the table is already created:ALTER TABLE dbo.Customer
ADD CONSTRAINT UK_CUSTOMER UNIQUE (Id)
DROP SYNTAX Below is the Syntax for dropping a PRIMARY KEY:ALTER TABLE dbo.Customer
DROP CONSTRAINT PK_CUSTOMER
Below is the Syntax for dropping a UNIQUE KEY:ALTER TABLE dbo.Customer
DROP CONSTRAINT UK_CUSTOMER

ALSO READ