SQL Server® 2008 Administration: Real World Skills for MCITP Certification and Beyond

Chapter Essentials

Normalization Defined Normalization is the process used to optimize the structure of a database in order to minimize data anomalies. Once you've designed and normalized a few databases, you'll usually find that you normalize as you design.

Normal Forms Several normal forms exist, but most DBAs agree that third normal form (3NF) is the minimum requirement for standard OLTP databases. You may be able to tolerate or even desire to go beyond 3NF, but it is not usually needed.

Normalizing a Database The process of normalizing a database to 3NF involves three simple and obvious steps: move to 1NF, ensure 2NF, and move to 3NF if necessary. Many times a database in 1NF is automatically in 2NF and 3NF simply because it does not contain ...