DatabasesIntermediate
Normalization
PronunciationNOR-muh-li-ZAY-shun
Definition
Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to minimize redundancy and improve data integrity. It involves dividing large tables into smaller, related tables and defining relationships between them.
Where you hear it
During database schema design, performance optimization discussions, or when reviewing data models for potential anomalies.
Examples
We need to apply normalization to this table to avoid storing the same address multiple times.
The database schema requires normalization to ensure that updates to user information remain consistent.
Common mistake
Thinking that normalization always leads to the best performance; sometimes, denormalization is preferred in read-heavy systems to reduce the number of complex joins.