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A relational database is distinguished by its requirement for relationships between data sets. This means that data is organized into tables, where each table can represent a different entity (such as customers, orders, products, etc.). The relationships are established through the use of foreign keys, which link tables based on shared attributes. This relational model allows for complex queries that can pull relevant data from multiple tables simultaneously, making it a powerful approach for data management.
The ability to define relationships enhances data integrity and reduces redundancy, enabling efficient updates and consistent access to linked data sets. This feature is a core principle of relational database management systems (RDBMS), setting them apart from other database types that may use hierarchical or flat file structures without the same relational constraints.