Database Normalization

• Normalization is a technique for organizing data in a database.
• It is important that a database is normalized to minimize redundancy (duplicate data) and to ensure only related data is stored in each table.
• It also prevents any issues stemming from database modifications such as insertions, deletions, and updates.
• The stages of organization are called normal forms.
• First Normal Form (1NF):
  • Data is stored in tables with rows uniquely identified by a primary key
  • Data within each table is stored in individual columns in its most reduced form
  • There are no repeating groups
• Second Normal Form (2NF):
  • Everything from 1NF
  • Only data that relates to a table’s primary key is stored in each table
• Third Normal Form (3NF):
  • Everything from 2NF
  • There are no in-table dependencies between the columns in each table