What is a unique index SQL?

What is an unique index?

Unique indexes are indexes that help maintain data integrity by ensuring that no rows of data in a table have identical key values. When you create a unique index for an existing table with data, values in the columns or expressions that comprise the index key are checked for uniqueness.

Does a SQL index have to be unique?

SQL Server does not require a clustered index to be unique, but yet it must have some means of uniquely identifying every row. That's why, for non-unique clustered indexes, SQL Server adds to every duplicate instance of a clustering key value a 4-byte integer value called a uniqueifier.

What is the difference between primary and unique index?

Primary key will not accept NULL values whereas Unique key can accept NULL values. A table can have only one primary key whereas there can be multiple unique key on a table. A Clustered index automatically created when a primary key is defined whereas Unique key generates the non-clustered index.

What is the difference between unique index and unique constraint?

A unique index ensures that the values in the index key columns are unique. A unique constraint also guarantees that no duplicate values can be inserted into the column(s) on which the constraint is created. When a unique constraint is created a corresponding unique index is automatically created on the column(s).