Unique key constraint

Unique key constraint:

We use UNIQUE constraint to enforce uniqueness of a column i.e the column shouldn't allow any duplicate values. We can add a Unique constraint thru the designer or using a query. To add a unique constraint using SQL server management studio designer: 1. Right-click on the table and select Design 2. Right-click on the column, and select Indexes/Keys... 3. Click Add 4. For Columns, select the column name you want to be unique. 5. For Type, choose Unique Key. 6. Click Close, Save the table.

To create the unique key using a query:
Alter Table Table_Name
Add Constraint Constraint_Name Unique(Column_Name)

Both primary key and unique key are used to enforce, the uniqueness of a column. So, when do you choose one over the other?
A table can have, only one primary key. If you want to enforce uniqueness on 2 or more columns, then we use unique key constraint.

What is the difference between Primary key constraint and Unique key constraint? This question is asked very frequently in interviews.
1. A table can have only one primary key, but more than one unique key
2. Primary key does not allow nulls, where as unique key allows one null

To drop the constraint
1. Right click the constraint and delete.
Or
2. Using a query

 
Alter Table Table_Name

Drop COnstraint UQ_tableName_columnName