Many to Many Recursive Relationships

I’m a former developer, mainframe as well as distributed systems, but retired almost 20 years ago. Back then I understood sql; index tables, relationships, etc.

BUT, I’ve forgotten much of my technical knowledge. I need to ensure database integrity during; deletions and updates under the following circumaintances.

Could someone please answer the following questions below?

SCENARIO

I have one main table, named “Main Table”. This table has a Many to Many, recursive relationship.

Also, the user may select a Main Table entry and associate it with other Main Table entries.

CASES

1. User deletes a Main table entry. The entry is associated with other entries. What

happens to the associated entries? Do their “association” entries just get deleted from an index table?

2. User moves a Main table entry that is associated with other main table entries to another Table (database). What happens to the remaining Main Table associated entries?

3. What happens if I disassociate a main table entry from another main table entry and then associate it with yet another Main table entry? What’s the final dispositions for the table entries involved? Does the database remain intact (not corrupted)?

Thanks In Advance for your time and trouble!