Final answer:
Referential integrity is a database concept critical for ensuring that the relationships between tables in a relational database are maintained to prevent orphaned data.
Step-by-step explanation:
Referential integrity is a database concept that ensures that relationships between tables remain consistent.
This is achieved by enforcing rules that govern the relationships between primary keys and foreign keys in relational databases.
When referential integrity is in place, it prevents the creation of orphan records or the deletion of records that are referenced by other tables, thereby maintaining the consistency of links among tables.