What term describes a connection between two database tables that allows one to look up information from the other using a common field?

• A. Association
• B. Link
• C. Relationship
• D. Join

Answer: (C)

The connection between two tables that lets you look up related information using a common field is called a relationship. In relational databases, tables are linked through keys—typically a primary key in one table and a foreign key in another—establishing how the data items relate. This relationship enables you to retrieve related data efficiently, for example by correlating a customer record with their orders. A join is the SQL operation you perform to combine rows from both tables based on that common field, but the underlying link between the tables is the relationship itself. Terms like association or link are less precise in this context.