SQL
NORMALIZATION
By @Dipankar_Raman
SQL Normalization
Normalization is a database design technique used to
minimize redundancy and dependency by organizing the
attributes and relations of a database. The goal is to ensure
that the database structure is efficient and free from
anomalies during insertion, deletion, and update operations.
The process involves dividing large tables into smaller ones
and defining relationships between them.
SQL Normalization categorized by type
1.First Normal Form (1NF)
2.Second Normal Form (2NF)
3.Third Normal Form (3NF)
4.Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
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1. First Normal Form (1NF)
A table is in First Normal Form (1NF) if:
All columns contain atomic (indivisible) values. There should be no
repeating groups or arrays in a column.
Each record (row) is unique, i.e., there must be a primary key to
identify each row.
Example: Before 1NF:
EmployeeID E_Name PhoneNumbers
101 John 1234567890, 0987654321
102 Jane 1112233445
PhoneNumbers column was
After 1NF: split into multiple rows
EmployeeID E_Name PhoneNumbers
101 John 1234567890
101 john 0987654321
102 Jane 1112233445
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2. Second Normal Form (2NF)
A table is in Second Normal Form (2NF) if:
It is already in 1NF. There are no partial dependencies. This means
that non-key attributes must depend on the entire primary key and not
just a part of it. If a table has a composite primary key, all non-key
attributes must be fully functionally dependent on the entire composite
key.
Example: Before 2NF:
EmployeeID DepartmentID E_Name DepartmentName
101 10 John HR
102 20 Jane IT
Here, DepartmentName is only dependent on DepartmentID, not on the
whole primary key (EmployeeID, DepartmentID). This is a partial
dependency.
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After 2NF:
Create a separate table for Departments:
Employees Table: Store EmployeeID and DepartmentID.
Departments Table: Store DepartmentID and DepartmentName.
Employees Table:
EmployeeID DepartmentID E_Name
101 10 John
102 20 Jane
Departments Table:
DepartmentID DepartmentName
10 HR
20 IT
Now, there are no partial dependencies as each non-key attribute depends
on the whole primary key.
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3. Third Normal Form (3NF)
A table is in Third Normal Form (3NF) if:
It is already in 2NF. There are no transitive dependencies. This means
that non-key attributes should not depend on other non-key attributes.
Every non- key attribute must depend only on the primary key, not on any
other non-key attribute.
Example: Before 3NF:
EmployeeID E_name DepartmentID DepartmentHead
101 John 10 Sarah
102 Jane 20 Mike
Here, DepartmentHead depends on DepartmentID, not directly on the
primary key EmployeeID. This is a transitive dependency.
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After 3NF:
Split the table into two tables: one for Employees and one for
Departments.
Employees Table:
EmployeeID E_Name DepartmentID
101 John 10
102 Jane 20
Departments Table:
DepartmentID DepartmentHead
10 Sarah
20 Mike
Now, there are no transitive dependencies, as the DepartmentHead is
stored in the Departments table, where it should be.
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4. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
A table is in Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF) if:
It is already in 3NF. Every determinant is a candidate key. In other
words, if any non- prime attribute (i.e., attribute not part of a candidate
key) determines another attribute, the determinant must be a candidate
key.
Example: Before BCNF:
StudentID CourseID Instructor
1 CS101 Prof. A
2 CS101 Prof. A
1 CS102 Prof. B
Here, Instructor is determined by CourseID, but CourseID is not a
candidate key because StudentID, CourseID together form a composite key.
Therefore, this table violates BCNF.
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After BCNF:
Split the table into two:
Student-Course Table:
StudentID CourseID
1 CS101
2 CS101
1 CS102
Course-Instructor Table:
CourseID Instructor
CS101 Prof. A
CS102 Prof. B
Now, the Instructor is determined by CourseID, which is a candidate key
in the second table, satisfying BCNF.
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