The degree of a relationship is different from the degree of a relation (table). Both definitions are likely to get mixed up and cause confusion.

1. Relation in this context (in relational databases) is synonym to a “table” Whereas,
2. Relationship is synonym to “a connection between tables (relations)”.

We have to consider both of these characteristics known as “degree” and “cardinality” of

1. relations (tables) and
2. relationships

Separately.

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1. in a relation (table)

i) Degree – Number of fields (columns) in relation.

ii) Cardinality – number of records (rows) in relation.

2. in a relationship

i) Degree – Number of entities (tables) involved in a relationship (Unary, Binary, Ternary, N-array)

ii) Cardinality – Number of connections that each record (row/data) of an entity might establish with the records of another entity. (One to one, One to many, many to many)