Table Normalization

Making Sense of Your Data In Five Easy Well, Five Steps

(Just Kidding)

Introduction
Relational Database
Relations vs. Tables 5 Normal Forms of Concern

First Normal Form (1NF)

First normal form The table must be flat.
All occurrences of a record type must contain the same number of columns. No column can contain repeating elements.

1NF Number of Columns

1NF Repeating Elements

1NF Compliant

Second Normal Form (2NF)

All non-key columns must be related to all key columns Implied requirements
Key column established All non-key columns describe the key column entry

2NF Key and Non-key Columns

2NF Compliant: Choices

Third Normal Form (3NF)

Non-key columns cannot be dependent on other non-key columns Maintains relationship between non-key columns and the key column

3NF Violation Examples

Area code column based on City column of author address Total price column of order entry based on quantity column and unit price column (calculated value)

3NF Calculated Column

Fourth (Boyce-Codd) Normal Form (4NF)

Only related data entities may be included in a single table Title-Author-AuthorAddr1

4NF Unrelated Data Entries

4NF Compliant (One Solution)

Fifth Normal Form (5NF)

Any table that has been divided into multiple tables must be capable of being reconstructed to its exact original structure by one or more joins.

5NF Initial Table

5NF Initial Table (contd)

5NF Resultant Tables (Normalized)

5NF Query Recreating the Table

Review
1NF = Flat, Column Count Equal, No Repeating Elements in a Column 2NF = Non-key columns related to key columns 3NF = No interdependent non-key columns 4NF (Boyce-Codd) = Only related entities 5NF = Reconstruction must be possible

Questions?
References:
Microsoft, Inc. (2000). Database Normalization Basics (Q209534) Retrieved 11/15/2001 from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;enus;Q209534 Syngress Media, Inc. (1999). MCDBA SQL Server 7.0 Database Design Study Guide (Exam 70-29). Osborne/McGraw-Hill, New York. (ISBN 0-07-212078-9) Litwin, P., et. al. (1997). Access 97 Developers Handbook, Third Edition. Sybex, San Francisco. (ISBN 0-7821-1941-7).