We would have to query all of the columns that could have this Class field and rename each one that was found.
We would be adding incomplete data to our table, which can cause issues when trying to analyse this data.Īn update anomaly happens when we want to update data, and we update some of the data but not other data.įor example, let’s say the class Biology 1 was changed to “Intro to Biology”. The new record would look like this: Student ID This is not a normalised table, and there are a few issues with this.Īn insert anomaly happens when we try to insert a record into this table without knowing all the data we need to know.įor example, if we wanted to add a new student but did not know their course name. The classes a student is taking, if any.This table keeps track of a few pieces of information: Let’s say our student database looks like this: Student ID We’ll be using a student database as an example in this article, which records student, class, and teacher information.
Let’s take a look at the different kinds of data anomalies that can occur and that can be prevented with a normalised database.
This can happen if a database is not normalised. Some of these points above relate to “anomalies”.Īn anomaly is where there is an issue in the data that is not meant to be there. Without normalization on a database, the data can be slow, incorrect, and messy. Normalization in a DBMS is done to achieve these points.
Why do we want to go through this manual process of rearranging the data? So why would anyone want to normalize their database?
I’ll show you how to normalise a database later in this article. To perform the normalization process, you start with a rough idea of the data you want to store, and apply certain rules to it in order to get it to a more efficient form. This means that normalization in a DBMS (Database Management System) can be done in Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL and any other type of database. It can be done on any relational database, where data is stored in tables which are linked to each other. It’s commonly done by database developers and database administrators. It’s something a person does manually, as opposed to a system or a tool doing it. Want to improve your database modelling skills? Click here to get my Database Normalisation Checklist: a list of things to do as you normalise or design your database! What Is Database Normalization?ĭatabase normalisation, or just normalisation as it’s commonly called, is a process used for data modelling or database creation, where you organise your data and tables so it can be added and updated efficiently.