If a database contains two tables: physicians and patients, what is the cardinality of the relationship if a physician may be linked to many patients, and patients may only be related to one physician?

In this scenario, the correct answer is that the relationship between the two tables—physicians and patients—is one-to-many. This means one physician can be associated with multiple patients, while each individual patient is linked to only one physician.

To clarify, when discussing relationships in databases, cardinality refers to the number of instances of one entity (in this case, physicians) that can be associated with instances of another entity (patients). Here, because a single physician can oversee many patients, this establishes a one-to-many relationship from the perspective of the physician table to the patient table. Each patient, however, has a direct and singular connection to one specific physician, reinforcing the one-to-many structure.

Understanding this concept is fundamental in database design, as it informs how tables are linked and how relationships are modeled. This relationship type ensures efficient querying and data integrity, which are crucial components in the healthcare context, given the importance of accurate data management for patient care and medical practice.