[sql] How can I find out what FOREIGN KEY constraint references a table in SQL Server?

I am trying to drop a table but getting the following message:

Msg 3726, Level 16, State 1, Line 3
Could not drop object 'dbo.UserProfile' because it is referenced by a FOREIGN KEY constraint.
Msg 2714, Level 16, State 6, Line 2
There is already an object named 'UserProfile' in the database.

I looked around with SQL Server Management Studio but I am unable to find the constraint. How can I find out the foreign key constraints?

I am using this script to find all details related to foreign key. I am using INFORMATION.SCHEMA. Below is a SQL Script:

SELECT 
    ccu.table_name AS SourceTable
    ,ccu.constraint_name AS SourceConstraint
    ,ccu.column_name AS SourceColumn
    ,kcu.table_name AS TargetTable
    ,kcu.column_name AS TargetColumn
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.CONSTRAINT_COLUMN_USAGE ccu
    INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.REFERENTIAL_CONSTRAINTS rc
        ON ccu.CONSTRAINT_NAME = rc.CONSTRAINT_NAME 
    INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE kcu 
        ON kcu.CONSTRAINT_NAME = rc.UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_NAME  
ORDER BY ccu.table_name

try the following query.

select object_name(sfc.constraint_object_id) AS constraint_name,
       OBJECT_Name(parent_object_id) AS table_name ,
       ac1.name as table_column_name,
       OBJECT_name(referenced_object_id) as reference_table_name,      
       ac2.name as reference_column_name
from  sys.foreign_key_columns sfc
join sys.all_columns ac1 on (ac1.object_id=sfc.parent_object_id and ac1.column_id=sfc.parent_column_id)
join sys.all_columns ac2 on (ac2.object_id=sfc.referenced_object_id and ac2.column_id=sfc.referenced_column_id) 
where sfc.parent_object_id=OBJECT_ID(<main table name>);

this will give the constraint_name, column_names which will be referring and tables which will be depending on the constraint will be there.

The easiest way to get Primary Key and Foreign Key for a table is:

/*  Get primary key and foreign key for a table */
USE DatabaseName;

SELECT CONSTRAINT_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE
WHERE CONSTRAINT_NAME LIKE 'PK%' AND
TABLE_NAME = 'TableName'

SELECT CONSTRAINT_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE
WHERE CONSTRAINT_NAME LIKE 'FK%' AND
TABLE_NAME = 'TableName'

SELECT 
    obj.name      AS FK_NAME,
    sch.name      AS [schema_name],
    tab1.name     AS [table],
    col1.name     AS [column],
    tab2.name     AS [referenced_table],
    col2.name     AS [referenced_column]
FROM 
     sys.foreign_key_columns fkc
INNER JOIN sys.objects obj
    ON obj.object_id = fkc.constraint_object_id
INNER JOIN sys.tables tab1
    ON tab1.object_id = fkc.parent_object_id
INNER JOIN sys.schemas sch
    ON tab1.schema_id = sch.schema_id
INNER JOIN sys.columns col1
    ON col1.column_id = parent_column_id AND col1.object_id = tab1.object_id
INNER JOIN sys.tables tab2
    ON tab2.object_id = fkc.referenced_object_id
INNER JOIN sys.columns col2
    ON col2.column_id = referenced_column_id 
        AND col2.object_id =  tab2.object_id;

You could use this query to display Foreign key constaraints:

SELECT
K_Table = FK.TABLE_NAME,
FK_Column = CU.COLUMN_NAME,
PK_Table = PK.TABLE_NAME,
PK_Column = PT.COLUMN_NAME,
Constraint_Name = C.CONSTRAINT_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.REFERENTIAL_CONSTRAINTS C
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS FK ON C.CONSTRAINT_NAME = FK.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS PK ON C.UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_NAME = PK.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE CU ON C.CONSTRAINT_NAME = CU.CONSTRAINT_NAME
INNER JOIN (
SELECT i1.TABLE_NAME, i2.COLUMN_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS i1
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE i2 ON i1.CONSTRAINT_NAME = i2.CONSTRAINT_NAME
WHERE i1.CONSTRAINT_TYPE = 'PRIMARY KEY'
) PT ON PT.TABLE_NAME = PK.TABLE_NAME
---- optional:
ORDER BY
1,2,3,4
WHERE PK.TABLE_NAME='YourTable'

Taken from http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2006/11/01/sql-server-query-to-display-foreign-key-relationships-and-name-of-the-constraint-for-each-table-in-database/

Try this

SELECT
  object_name(parent_object_id) ParentTableName,
  object_name(referenced_object_id) RefTableName,
  name 
FROM sys.foreign_keys
WHERE parent_object_id = object_id('Tablename')

Another way is to check the results of

sp_help 'TableName'

(or just highlight the quoted TableName and pres ALT+F1)

With time passing, I just decided to refine my answer. Below is a screenshot of the results that sp_help provides. A have used the AdventureWorksDW2012 DB for this example. There is numerous good information there, and what we are looking for is at the very end - highlighted in green:

In Object Explorer, expand the table, and expand the Keys:

In SQL Server Management Studio you can just right click the table in the object explorer and select "View Dependencies". This would give a you a good starting point. It shows tables, views, and procedures that reference the table.

You can also return all the information about the Foreign Keys by adapating @LittleSweetSeas answer:

SELECT 
   OBJECT_NAME(f.parent_object_id) ConsTable,
   OBJECT_NAME (f.referenced_object_id) refTable,
   COL_NAME(fc.parent_object_id,fc.parent_column_id) ColName
FROM 
   sys.foreign_keys AS f
INNER JOIN 
   sys.foreign_key_columns AS fc 
      ON f.OBJECT_ID = fc.constraint_object_id
INNER JOIN 
   sys.tables t 
      ON t.OBJECT_ID = fc.referenced_object_id
order by
ConsTable

I found this answer quite simple and did the trick for what I needed: https://stackoverflow.com/a/12956348/652519

A summary from the link, use this query:

EXEC sp_fkeys 'TableName'

Quick and simple. I was able to locate all the foreign key tables, respective columns and foreign key names of 15 tables pretty quickly.

As @mdisibio noted below, here's a link to the documentation that details the different parameters that can be used: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-fkeys-transact-sql

if you want to go via SSMS on the object explorer window, right click on the object you want to drop, do view dependencies.

Here is the best way to find out Foreign Key Relationship in all Database.

exec sp_helpconstraint 'Table Name'

and one more way

select * from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE where TABLE_NAME='Table Name'
--and left(CONSTRAINT_NAME,2)='FK'(If you want single key)

--The following may give you more of what you're looking for:

create Procedure spShowRelationShips 
( 
    @Table varchar(250) = null,
    @RelatedTable varchar(250) = null
)
as
begin
    if @Table is null and @RelatedTable is null
        select  object_name(k.constraint_object_id) ForeginKeyName, 
                object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) TableName, 
                object_name(k.referenced_object_id) RelatedTable, 
                c.Name RelatedColumnName,  
                object_name(rc.object_id) + '.' + rc.name RelatedKeyField
        from sys.foreign_key_columns k
        left join sys.columns c on object_name(c.object_id) = object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) and c.column_id = k.parent_column_id
        left join sys.columns rc on object_name(rc.object_id) = object_name(k.referenced_object_id) and rc.column_id = k.referenced_column_id
        order by 2,3

    if @Table is not null and @RelatedTable is null
        select  object_name(k.constraint_object_id) ForeginKeyName, 
                object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) TableName, 
                object_name(k.referenced_object_id) RelatedTable, 
                c.Name RelatedColumnName,  
                object_name(rc.object_id) + '.' + rc.name RelatedKeyField
        from sys.foreign_key_columns k
        left join sys.columns c on object_name(c.object_id) = object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) and c.column_id = k.parent_column_id
        left join sys.columns rc on object_name(rc.object_id) = object_name(k.referenced_object_id) and rc.column_id = k.referenced_column_id
        where object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) =@Table
        order by 2,3

    if @Table is null and @RelatedTable is not null
        select  object_name(k.constraint_object_id) ForeginKeyName, 
                object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) TableName, 
                object_name(k.referenced_object_id) RelatedTable, 
                c.Name RelatedColumnName,  
                object_name(rc.object_id) + '.' + rc.name RelatedKeyField
        from sys.foreign_key_columns k
        left join sys.columns c on object_name(c.object_id) = object_name(k.Parent_Object_id) and c.column_id = k.parent_column_id
        left join sys.columns rc on object_name(rc.object_id) = object_name(k.referenced_object_id) and rc.column_id = k.referenced_column_id
        where object_name(k.referenced_object_id) =@RelatedTable
        order by 2,3



end