What is the characteristic of the delete rule RESTRICT in a one-to-many relationship?

The RESTRICT delete rule is designed to maintain data integrity in relational databases, particularly in one-to-many relationships. When this rule is applied, it acts as a safeguard against the accidental loss of related data. Specifically, if a record in the "one" side of a one-to-many relationship is associated with one or more records in the "many" side, the RESTRICT rule prevents the deletion of that record.

This means that if you attempt to delete a parent record that has dependent child records, the database will block the deletion action, thus preventing orphaned records and preserving the integrity of the data. This characteristic helps ensure that relationships between tables remain consistent, adhering to the principle of referential integrity in database design.

Understanding this behavior is crucial for database management and design. It highlights the importance of maintaining relationships between data entities and ensures that a well-structured database remains reliable and accurate.