---
title: "What is a cascading update?"  
description: "What is a cascading update?"  
author: "Sumit Kesarwani"  
published: 2014-08-24  
updated: 2020-09-23  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1997/what-is-a-cascading-update  
category: "mssql server"  
tags: ["mssql server"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is a cascading update?

Referential integrity constraints require that foreign key values in one table correspond to primary key values in another. If the value of the primary key is changed -- that is, updated -- the value of the foreign key must immediately be changed to match it. Cascading updates will set this change to be done automatically by the DBMS whenever necessary.

## Answers

### Answer by Sumit Kesarwani

Referential integrity constraints require that foreign key values in one table correspond to primary key values in another. If the value of the primary key is changed -- that is, updated -- the value of the foreign key must immediately be changed to match it. Cascading updates will set this change to be done automatically by the DBMS whenever necessary.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1997/what-is-a-cascading-update

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