Description: Orphan records are entries in a database that do not have a corresponding entry in another related table. This phenomenon commonly occurs in relational database systems, where relationships between tables are established through primary and foreign keys. When an entry in the main table is deleted or modified without updating the related entries, orphan records are generated. These records can cause inconsistencies in the data, hindering referential integrity and affecting the quality of the stored information. Identifying and managing orphan records is crucial for maintaining the health of a database, as they can lead to errors in queries and reports, as well as an increase in the database size without a clear purpose. In the context of data management and analytics, orphan records can arise when events or transactions are logged that are not linked to a specific context or entity, complicating data analysis and traceability. Therefore, it is essential to implement data cleaning and maintenance strategies to prevent the accumulation of orphan records and ensure the effectiveness of database operations.
