What is Database Normalization?
Normalization is a database design technique that reduces data redundancy and
eliminates undesirable characteristics like Insertion, Update and Deletion
Anomalies. Normalization rules divides larger tables into smaller tables and links
them using relationships. The purpose of Normalisation in SQL is to eliminate
redundant (repetitive) data and ensure data is stored logically.
The inventor of the relational model Edgar Codd proposed the theory of
normalization of data with the introduction of the First Normal Form, and he
continued to extend theory with Second and Third Normal Form. Later he joined
Raymond F. Boyce to develop the theory of Boyce-Codd Normal Form.
In this Database Normalization tutorial, you will learn:
Database Normal Forms
Here is a list of Normal Forms in SQL:
1NF (First Normal Form)
2NF (Second Normal Form)
3NF (Third Normal Form)
BCNF (Boyce-Codd Normal Form)
4NF (Fourth Normal Form)
5NF (Fifth Normal Form)
6NF (Sixth Normal Form)
The Theory of Data Normalization in MySQL server is still being developed further.
For example, there are discussions even on 6th Normal Form. However, in most
practical applications, normalization achieves its best in 3rd Normal Form. The
evolution of Normalization in SQL theories is illustrated below-
Databa
se Normal Forms
Database Normalization With Examples
Database Normalization Example can be easily understood with the help of a case
study. Assume, a video library maintains a database of movies rented out. Without
any normalization in database, all information is stored in one table as shown
below. Let’s understand Normalization database with normalization example with
solution:
Here you see Movies Rented column has multiple values. Now let’s move into 1st
Normal Forms:
1NF (First Normal Form) Rules
Each table cell should contain a single value.
Each record needs to be unique.
The above table in 1NF-
1NF Example
Example of 1NF in DBMS
Before we proceed let’s understand a few things —
What is a KEY in SQL?
A KEY in SQL is a value used to identify records in a table uniquely. An SQL KEY is a
single column or combination of multiple columns used to uniquely identify rows
or tuples in the table. SQL Key is used to identify duplicate information, and it also
helps establish a relationship between multiple tables in the database.
Note: Columns in a table that are NOT used to identify a record uniquely are called
non-key columns.
What is a Primary Key?
Primary Key in DBMS
A primary is a single column value used to identify a database record uniquely.
It has following attributes
A primary key cannot be NULL
A primary key value must be unique
The primary key values should rarely be changed
The primary key must be given a value when a new record is inserted.
What is Composite Key?
A composite key is a primary key composed of multiple columns used to identify a
record uniquely
In our database, we have two people with the same name Robert Phil, but they live
in different places.
Composite key in Database
Hence, we require both Full Name and Address to identify a record uniquely. That
is a composite key.
Let’s move into second normal form 2NF
2NF (Second Normal Form) Rules
Rule 1- Be in 1NF
Rule 2- Single Column Primary Key that does not functionally dependant on
any subset of candidate key relation
It is clear that we can’t move forward to make our simple database in
2nd Normalization form unless we partition the table above.
We have divided our 1NF table into two tables viz. Table 1 and Table2. Table 1
contains member information. Table 2 contains information on movies rented.
We have introduced a new column called Membership_id which is the primary key
for table 1. Records can be uniquely identified in Table 1 using membership id
Database – Foreign Key
In Table 2, Membership_ID is the Foreign Key
Foreign Key in DBMS
Foreign Key references the primary key of another Table! It helps connect your
Tables
A foreign key can have a different name from its primary key
It ensures rows in one table have corresponding rows in another
Unlike the Primary key, they do not have to be unique. Most often they aren’t
Foreign keys can be null even though primary keys can not
Why do you need a foreign key?
Suppose, a novice inserts a record in Table B such as
You will only be able to insert values into your foreign key that exist in the unique
key in the parent table. This helps in referential integrity.
The above problem can be overcome by declaring membership id from Table2 as
foreign key of membership id from Table1
Now, if somebody tries to insert a value in the membership id field that does not
exist in the parent table, an error will be shown!
What are transitive functional dependencies?
A transitive functional dependency is when changing a non-key column, might
cause any of the other non-key columns to change
Consider the table 1. Changing the non-key column Full Name may change
Salutation.
Let’s move into 3NF
3NF (Third Normal Form) Rules
Rule 1- Be in 2NF
Rule 2- Has no transitive functional dependencies
To move our 2NF table into 3NF, we again need to again divide our table.
3NF Example
Below is a 3NF example in SQL database:
We have again divided our tables and created a new table which stores Salutations.
There are no transitive functional dependencies, and hence our table is in 3NF
In Table 3 Salutation ID is primary key, and in Table 1 Salutation ID is foreign to
primary key in Table 3
Now our little example is at a level that cannot further be decomposed to attain
higher normal form types of normalization in DBMS. In fact, it is already in higher
normalization forms. Separate efforts for moving into next levels of normalizing
data are normally needed in complex databases. However, we will be discussing
next levels of normalisation in DBMS in brief in the following.
BCNF (Boyce-Codd Normal Form)
Even when a database is in 3rd Normal Form, still there would be anomalies resulted
if it has more than one Candidate Key.
Sometimes is BCNF is also referred as 3.5 Normal Form.
4NF (Fourth Normal Form) Rules
If no database table instance contains two or more, independent and multivalued
data describing the relevant entity, then it is in 4th Normal Form.
5NF (Fifth Normal Form) Rules
A table is in 5th Normal Form only if it is in 4NF and it cannot be decomposed into
any number of smaller tables without loss of data.
6NF (Sixth Normal Form) Proposed
6th Normal Form is not standardized, yet however, it is being discussed by database
experts for some time. Hopefully, we would have a clear & standardized definition
for 6th Normal Form in the near future…
That’s all to SQL Normalization!!!
Summary
Database designing is critical to the successful implementation of a
database management system that meets the data requirements of an
enterprise system.
Normalization in DBMS is a process which helps produce database systems
that are cost-effective and have better security models.
Functional dependencies are a very important component of the normalize
data process
Most database systems are normalized database up to the third normal
forms in DBMS.
A primary key uniquely identifies are record in a Table and cannot be null
A foreign key helps connect table and references a primary key
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