Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a weak entity?

A weak entity is typically defined by its dependency on a strong (or owner) entity for identification. Therefore, it cannot stand alone and must rely on the attributes of another entity to create a primary key, which is why option D is correct.

The characteristics of weak entities include the requirement of a foreign key from another entity to establish a relationship, which allows the weak entity to be identified uniquely. They also have a strong relationship with the owning entity, which is crucial for their existence. Additionally, they often utilize a composite primary key made up of their own attributes combined with the foreign key from the associated strong entity.

These features underscore the essential nature of weak entities, highlighting their dependency on other entities for their identification and existence within a database schema.