Question

Difference between total and partial participation in dbms

Answer 1

In total participation, Each entity is involved in the relationship and is represented by double lines.

In partial participation, Not all entities are involved in the relationship and is represented by single lines.


Hope this helps!

Answer 2

                      In a database management system, the participation constraint specifies whether the existence of an entity depends on it being related to another entity via a relationship type. This constraint specifies the minimum number of relationship instances that each entity can participate.

i) Total Participation:

Here each entity in the entity set occurs in at least one relationship in that relationship set.

E.g., relationship Borrower between customers and loans. Every loan has a borrower.

ii) Partial Participation:

Here each entity in the entity set may not occur in at least one relationship in that relationship set.  

E.g., A company policy stating employee must manage a department; however, every employee may not manage a department, so the participation of Employee in the managing relationship is partial.