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Normalization Is The Process of Structuring Relational Database Schema Such That Most Ambiguity Is Removed

Normalization is the process of structuring relational databases to minimize redundancy and dependency on non-key attributes. There are five normal forms that progress from least to most restrictive: first normal form requires each column contain a single value; second normal form requires non-key columns depend on the whole primary key; third normal form removes transitive dependencies.

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56 views1 page

Normalization Is The Process of Structuring Relational Database Schema Such That Most Ambiguity Is Removed

Normalization is the process of structuring relational databases to minimize redundancy and dependency on non-key attributes. There are five normal forms that progress from least to most restrictive: first normal form requires each column contain a single value; second normal form requires non-key columns depend on the whole primary key; third normal form removes transitive dependencies.

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Normalization is the process of structuring relational database schema such that most ambiguity is removed.

The stages of normalization are referred to as normal forms and progress from the least restrictive (First
Normal Form) through the most restrictive (Fifth Normal Form). Generally, most database designers do not
attempt to implement anything higher than Third Normal Form or Boyce-Codd Normal Form.

Definition: A relation is said to be in First Normal Form (1NF) if and only if each attribute of the relation is
atomic. More simply, to be in 1NF, each column must contain only a single value and each row must contain
the same columns.

Also Known As: 1NF

Definition: In order to be in Second Normal Form, a relation must first fulfill the
requirements to be in First Normal Form. Additionally, each nonkey attribute in the
relation must be functionally dependent upon the primary key.

Example: The following relation is in First Normal Form, but not Second Normal
Form:

Order # Customer Contact Person Total


1 Acme Widgets John Doe $134.23
2 ABC Corporation Fred Flintstone $521.24
3 Acme Widgets John Doe $1042.42
4 Acme Widgets John Doe $928.53

In the table above, the order number serves as the primary key. Notice that the
customer and total amount are dependent upon the order number -- this data is
specific to each order. However, the contact person is dependent upon the
customer. An alternative way to accomplish this would be to create two tables:

Customer Contact Person


Acme Widgets John Doe
ABC Corporation Fred Flintstone

Order # Customer Total


1 Acme Widgets $134.23
2 ABC Corporation $521.24
3 Acme Widgets $1042.42
4 Acme Widgets $928.53

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