How to find foreign key dependencies in SQL Server?

How can I find all of the foreign key dependencies on a particular column?

What are the different alternatives (graphically in SSMS, queries/views in SQL Server, 3rd party database tools, code in .NET)?

Solution 1:

The following query will help to get you started. It lists all Foreign Key Relationships within the current database.

SELECT
    FK_Table = FK.TABLE_NAME,
    FK_Column = CU.COLUMN_NAME,
    PK_Table = PK.TABLE_NAME,
    PK_Column = PT.COLUMN_NAME,
    Constraint_Name = C.CONSTRAINT_NAME
FROM
    INFORMATION_SCHEMA.REFERENTIAL_CONSTRAINTS C
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS FK
    ON C.CONSTRAINT_NAME = FK.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS PK
    ON C.UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_NAME = PK.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE CU
    ON C.CONSTRAINT_NAME = CU.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INNER JOIN (
            SELECT
                i1.TABLE_NAME,
                i2.COLUMN_NAME
            FROM
                INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS i1
            INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE i2
                ON i1.CONSTRAINT_NAME = i2.CONSTRAINT_NAME
            WHERE
                i1.CONSTRAINT_TYPE = 'PRIMARY KEY'
           ) PT
    ON PT.TABLE_NAME = PK.TABLE_NAME

You can also view relationships graphically within SQL Server Management studio within Database Diagrams.

Solution 2:

try: sp_help [table_name]

you will get all information about table, including all foreign keys

Solution 3:

Because your question is geared towards a single table, you can use this:

EXEC sp_fkeys 'TableName'

I found it on SO here:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/12956348/652519

I found the information I needed pretty quickly. It lists the foreign key's table, column and name.

EDIT

Here's a link to the documentation that details the different parameters that can be used: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-fkeys-transact-sql