What is the definition of multivalued attribute in database?
In the context of databases, a multivalued attribute is an attribute that can hold multiple values for a single entity or record. This means that instead of having a single value associated with an attribute, a multivalued attribute can store a set of values.
For example, consider a database table for a "Student" entity. If a student can have multiple phone numbers, the "Phone Numbers" attribute would be a multivalued attribute, as it can contain more than one phone number for each student record.
In relational database design, multivalued attributes are typically handled by creating a separate table to store the multiple values, which are then linked back to the original entity through a foreign key. This approach helps maintain normalization and avoids redundancy in the database structure.
In summary, a multivalued attribute allows for the representation of multiple values for a single attribute within a database entity, but it is generally better practice to model such attributes using separate tables to maintain data integrity and organization.