What are the advantages of normalizing a database?

Normalising a database improves data integrity, reduces data redundancy, and enhances the efficiency of data retrieval.

Normalising a database is a process that involves organising the columns and tables of a database to minimise data redundancy and improve data integrity. It is a systematic approach of decomposing tables to eliminate data redundancy and undesirable characteristics like Insertion, Update and Deletion Anomalies.

One of the main advantages of normalising a database is that it reduces data redundancy. This means that the same piece of data is not repeated in multiple places, which not only saves storage space but also makes the database more efficient. When data is repeated in several places, it can lead to inconsistencies and errors. For example, if a customer's address is stored in several places and the customer moves, the address needs to be updated in all those places. If it is not, the database will contain inconsistent information. By reducing data redundancy, normalisation helps to prevent such problems.

Another advantage of normalising a database is that it improves data integrity. Data integrity refers to the accuracy and consistency of data. When a database is normalised, the data in it is more likely to be accurate and consistent because it is not repeated in multiple places. This makes the database more reliable and trustworthy.

Normalising a database also enhances the efficiency of data retrieval. When a database is normalised, the data is organised in a way that makes it easier to retrieve. This can make the database faster and more efficient to use. For example, if a user wants to find all the orders made by a particular customer, they can do so more quickly and easily if the database is normalised.

In addition, normalisation can make it easier to maintain and update the database. When a database is normalised, changes to the data or structure of the database can be made more easily. This can save time and effort in the long run.

In conclusion, normalising a database has several advantages. It reduces data redundancy, improves data integrity, enhances the efficiency of data retrieval, and makes the database easier to maintain and update.