2. Normalization

Normalization

Normalization is a database design technique used to organize data into tables in such a way that redundancy is reduced and data integrity is improved.
It divides large, unstructured tables into smaller, well-structured ones based on functional dependencies.

 

Advantages of Normalization

1. Reduces Data Redundancy

Stores data only once, avoiding duplication.

2. Prevents Anomalies

Helps avoid:

  • Update anomalies
  • Insert anomalies
  • Delete anomalies

3. Improves Data Integrity

Data becomes consistent and reliable because each fact is stored in only one place.

4. Saves Storage Space

Eliminating repeated data reduces the size of the database.

5. Easier Maintenance

Changes are applied in one place, making updates simple and error-free.

 

 Disadvantages of Normalization

1. More Tables to Manage

Normalization splits data into many tables, increasing complexity.

2. Slower Queries (More Joins)

Retrieving data may require several JOIN operations, which can slow performance.

3. Harder for Beginners

Understanding 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF, etc. can be challenging.

4. Not Ideal for Analytical Systems   

Data warehouses often use denormalization because highly normalized data is slower for large read operations.