MySQL: Primar y key, index, unique

what is what?

[dr_paul]

In MySQL - what is a "primary keys"?

Is it one column in a table?
Can it be more than one column?
Is it the same as an Index?
Does a table HAVE to have a primary key?

[badone]

Is it one column in a table?

It can be one or more.

Is it the same as an Index?

No, a primary key uniquely identifies each individual row in a table. An index improves the speed of operations on a table, it can also be on one or more columns.

Does a table HAVE to have a primary key?

No, but it is good practice IMHO.

Cheers,
badone

[dr_paul]

Thanks for posting, bad one - and thanks for your straight answers. Kudos.