Which of the following defines a relational database?

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A relational database is fundamentally characterized by its organization of data into structured formats known as tables, where each table consists of rows and columns. The defining feature of a relational database is that it uses these tables to represent data and the relationships between data points. In this model, entities are stored within tables, and relationships between them are established through the use of key fields—commonly primary keys and foreign keys. This allows for the effective linking of different pieces of information, enabling complex queries, data integrity, and efficient data management.

For instance, in a database that tracks customers and orders, one table could store customer information with a unique identifier as the primary key, while another table holds order details with a foreign key referencing the customer identifier. This relational structure supports complex queries that can pull information from multiple tables efficiently.

Other options describe configurations that do not capture the essence of a relational database. A structure with flat files lacks the multi-table format and relationships, a single-table system cannot provide the same level of complexity or integrity that tables in a relational database can, and a model requiring complex programming does not inherently define the relational database structure, as relational databases are designed to simplify data interaction and management.

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