DATABASE NORMALIZATION

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Database normalization is a crucial process in relational database design that aims to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity by organizing data into smaller, related tables. This process involves applying a set of rules, known as normal forms, to ensure that the database structure minimizes anomalies like insertion, deletion, and update problems. By following normalization principles, designers can achieve a more efficient and consistent database structure, leading to better performance, easier maintenance, and improved query capabilities. However, normalization may also introduce challenges such as performance degradation in complex databases, where denormalization might be considered for optimization. This paper provides an overview of the normalization process, its stages, benefits, challenges, and scenarios where denormalization could be necessary.