database - MYSQL doesn't check for Foreign key exsistence -

i facing strange problem here.

table 1:

create table degree (degree_id varchar(6) primary key , degree_name varchar(32) unique key , degree_abbr varchar(3)); 

table 2:

create table course (course_id varchar(6) primary key , degree_id varchar(6) not null, course_name varchar(40) not null ,  foreign key (degree_id) references degree  (degree_id)); 

now far understand sql , cannot insert value in course table if value of field degree_id doesn't exist in degree table.

but if try insert

insert course values('cor_001' , 'blah' , 'course name' );   

this query runs , though 'blah' not valid degree_id.

you're using myisam tables, not support foreign keys. fk directives parsed , accepted, ignored.

you need use innodb tables proper fk support:

create table (...) engine=innodb;                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

if show create table your_table, you'll see engine type being used @ end of output.