Topic: Database Management Systems
Assume a one-to-many relationship from table named "authors" to the table named "books". Where should the foreign key reside in an optimal design for this relationship?
- A. In the "books" table
- B. In the "authors" table
- C. In both the tables
- D. In a separate linking table
Answer: A. In the "books" table
Explanation: In a one-to-many relationship, the optimal and standard relational database design requires placing the foreign key on the "many" side of the relationship. Since one author can have many books, the "books" table (the "many" side) should contain a foreign key referencing the primary key of the "authors" table.