Question

Which of the following would be most likely an atomic(simple) attribute type?

1. Age.
2. Employee ID.
3. Phone Number.
4. Social Security Number.
5. Date of Birth
6. Gender.

Answer 1

The atomic (simple) attribute type in a database context is one that cannot be further divided and holds a singular piece of information.

Step-by-step explanation:

An atomic (simple) attribute type refers to an attribute that cannot be divided into smaller parts with separate meanings. In the context of databases, this would mean an attribute that holds a singular piece of information. Examples of atomic attributes include:

• Age - typically a numerical value representing the number of years.
• Employee ID - a unique identifier for an employee within an organization.
• Phone Number - a sequence of digits used to make telephone calls to a person or organization.
• Social Security Number - a unique number assigned to U.S. citizens and some residents for tracking earnings and benefits.
• Date of Birth - the specific day, month, and year a person was born.
• Gender - typically a category such as male, female, or non-binary.

Among these, the most likely candidate for an atomic attribute would be the Employee ID, as it typically represents a singular, indivisible piece of data that uniquely identifies an employee and has no further breakdown.