Compound Key vs Composite Key

[CJM]

Many moons ago, I did an SSADM course... in it I learnt the formal meanings
of 'Compound' & 'Composite' keys...

Recently, I was talking with a colleague, and where he used 'Composite', I
used 'Compound', but strangely neither of us noticed the discrepancy and
both of us were clear and in agreement.

Thinking about it since, I've been trying to remember what the definitions
and therefore the differences were... but I can't remember. What is more,
when I did some research on the web, I've found both terms described as
meaning exactly the same thing... which is in keeping with the way we use
the words interchangeably now.

I'm 100% convinced that there was some subtle difference, but I can't find
any verification of this now.

So are there two subtly different meaning or did I just imagine it all?

Cheers

Chris

[MSFT]

Hi Chris,

You may read following article to see if it will help. It has a section for
these two kind of keys:

[url]http://www.cms.livjm.ac.uk/library/CMSCS201/SAD5.DOC[/url]

Luke
Microsoft Online Support

Get Secure! [url]www.microsoft.com/security[/url]
(This posting is provided "AS IS", with no warranties, and confers no
rights.)

[CJM]

Thanks Luke,

The explanation given in that document is better than the original one I was
given 10 years ago I think. Or maybe I am just older and wiser.

Thanks

Chris

[Tibor Karaszi]

I don't think I've ever seen any difference between the two, FWIW...

--
Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP
Archive at: [url]http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_ugroup=microsoft.public.sqlserver[/url]


"CJM" <cjmwork@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:%235oPPIjnDHA.2272@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

> Many moons ago, I did an SSADM course... in it I learnt the formal meanings
> of 'Compound' & 'Composite' keys...
>
> Recently, I was talking with a colleague, and where he used 'Composite', I
> used 'Compound', but strangely neither of us noticed the discrepancy and
> both of us were clear and in agreement.
>
> Thinking about it since, I've been trying to remember what the definitions
> and therefore the differences were... but I can't remember. What is more,
> when I did some research on the web, I've found both terms described as
> meaning exactly the same thing... which is in keeping with the way we use
> the words interchangeably now.
>
> I'm 100% convinced that there was some subtle difference, but I can't find
> any verification of this now.
>
> So are there two subtly different meaning or did I just imagine it all?
>
> Cheers
>
> Chris
>
>

[CJM]

"Tibor Karaszi" <tibor.please_reply_to_public_forum.karaszi@corner stone.se>
wrote in message news:uhCBUgtnDHA.2528@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

> I don't think I've ever seen any difference between the two, FWIW...

This is precisely my point.

There is in theory a difference between the two, but nevertheless we seem to
use them interchangeably. It doesnt really matter that much, it's more a
case of satisfying my own personal curiosity. In practical terms, the
difference is negligible.

Cheers

Chris