Introducing Database Normalization

Normalization is a process that Robert Boyce and Edgar Codd created back in the 1970s to optimize a database as much as possible. Each step of the normalization process has a form, which ranges from one to five, where five is the highest normal form.

By standard practice, every database must go through the normalization process.

We can implement up to the third normal form in most databases without negatively impacting functionality.

The main goal is to maintain the following:

• Integrity of data
• Optimize the database’s efficiency
• Provide a more efficient method of tracking
• Storing data
• Avoid any data issues

Data anomalies

Speaking of avoiding data issues, there are some points to be aware of, like data anomalies, which can create data issues in the database if we do not apply the normal forms to data. There are three types of anomalies:

• Insert anomaly
• Update anomaly
• Delete anomaly

We’ll use the table below to explain anomalies.