Determinant and Dependent

Functional dependency is a concept in database management systems that describes the relationship between attributes (columns) in a database table. It specifies that the value of one or more attributes uniquely determines the value of another attribute. In other words, if we know the values of certain attributes, we can determine the value of another attribute.

The left side and the right side of a functional dependency are sometimes referred to as the determinant and the dependent, respectively. Let's understand each term in detail:

1. Determinant:
- The determinant is the set of attributes on the left-hand side of a functional dependency.
- It represents the attribute(s) that uniquely determine the value of another attribute.
- The determinant can be a single attribute or a combination of multiple attributes.
- It is denoted by X in the functional dependency X -> Y, where X is the determinant.

2. Dependent:
- The dependent is the attribute on the right-hand side of a functional dependency.
- It represents the attribute whose value is determined by the determinant.
- The dependent can be a single attribute or a combination of multiple attributes.
- It is denoted by Y in the functional dependency X -> Y, where Y is the dependent.

The determinant and the dependent together form a functional dependency. The determinant(s) specify the conditions under which the value of the dependent(s) can be determined. This concept is crucial for database normalization, where we aim to eliminate redundancy and ensure data integrity.

It's important to note that functional dependency is a logical relationship and does not necessarily imply a physical ordering of attributes in a database table. The terms determinant and dependent are used to describe this relationship and help us understand how attributes are related to each other in the context of functional dependencies.