How to allow only one row for a table?

Question

I have one table in which I would like only one entry. So if someone is trying to insert another row it shouldn\'t be allowed, only after someone deleted the pr

Answer 1

A UNIQUE constraint allows multiple rows with NULL values, because two NULL values are never considered to be the same.

Similar considerations apply to CHECK constraints. They allow the expression to be TRUE or NULL (just not FALSE). Again, NULL values get past the check.

To rule that out, the column must be defined NOT NULL. Or make it the PRIMARY KEY since PK columns are defined NOT NULL automatically. Details:

• Why can I create a table with PRIMARY KEY on a nullable column?

Also, just use boolean:

CREATE TABLE onerow (
   onerow_id bool PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT TRUE
 , data text
 , CONSTRAINT onerow_uni CHECK (onerow_id)
);

The CHECK constraint can be that simple for a boolean column. Only TRUE is allowed.