What is the purpose of normalization in a relational database?
a) To minimize redundancy and dependency by organizing data
b) To create duplicate copies of the data for backup
c) To improve the performance of complex queries
d) To increase the number of tables in the database
Answer:
a) To minimize redundancy and dependency by organizing data
Explanation:
Normalization is the process of organizing data in a relational database to minimize redundancy and dependency. It involves dividing a large table into smaller, related tables and defining relationships between them using foreign keys.
The primary goal of normalization is to eliminate duplication of data, reduce the chances of data anomalies, and ensure data integrity. It is typically done in stages, called normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF, etc.), with each form addressing specific types of redundancy or dependency issues.
While normalization improves data integrity and organization, it can sometimes make queries more complex due to the need for joins between related tables.