unique index

Creating unique constraints (indexes) for multidimesional datasets

introduction

there sometimes exists requirements to enforce unique constraints on datasets that do not have a simple layout of distinct values over one or, if logically concatenated, more columns. for example, imagine the real world scenario of a 1:n, parent-child table relationship, where a parent table represents a number of document records and the child table holds a multitude of typed document attachement information. imagine futher, that only one document attachement type, say 'TYPE_0', should serve as a master or most current attachement per document. other document attachement types, say 'TYPE_1' and 'TYPE_2', may recur per document without any limitation.

the classic approach of a two-column unique constraint, comprising some doc_id and some doc_type columns, will not be appropriate in that case. the constraint will be violated as soon as any recurring of document types, 'TYPE_1' and 'TYPE_2', per document takes place.

a really impressive solution

the following problem solution is not new, nor has it been invented by me at all (thanks to m.s. for pointing in out to me) but i always go crazy about the way this very solution evolves from a merge of, on the first spot, rather different database schema design techniques. that is:

  • the nature of unique constraints, compared to primary key constraints and
  • the world of index definitions, specifically unique and function-based indexes.

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