Normalization of Database Tables
Database Tables and
Normalization
Normalization is a process for assigning attributes to
entities. It reduces data redundancies and helps eliminate
the data anomalies.
Normalization works through a series of stages called
normal forms:
– First normal form (1NF)
– Second normal form (2NF)
– Third normal form (3NF)
Database Tables and Normalization
The Need for Normalization
– Case of a Construction Company
Building project -- Project number, Name, Employees
assigned to the project.
Employee -- Employee number, Name, Job classification
The company charges its clients by billing the hours spent
on each project. The hourly billing rate is dependent on the
employee’s position.
Periodically, a report is generated.
The table whose contents correspond to the reporting
requirements is shown in Table 5.1.
Scenario
A few employees works for Project Num : 15
one project.
Project Name :
Evergreen
Employee Num :
101, 102, 103,
105
Sample Form
Project Num : 15
Project Name : Evergreen
Emp Num Emp Name Job Class Chr Hours Hrs Billed Total
101
102
103
105
Table Structure Matches
the Report Format
Database Tables and Normalization
Problems with the Figure 5.1
– The project number is intended to be a primary key, but it
contains nulls.
– The table displays data redundancies.
– The table entries invite data inconsistencies.
– The data redundancies yield the following anomalies:
Update anomalies.
Addition anomalies.
Deletion anomalies.
Database Tables and Normalization
Conversion to First Normal Form
– A relational table must not contain repeating groups.
– Repeating groups can be eliminated by adding the
appropriate entry in at least the primary key
column(s).
Data Organization: First Normal Form
After
Before
First Normal Form (1 NF)
1NF Definition
– The term first normal form (1NF) describes the
tabular format in which:
All the key attributes are defined.
There are no repeating groups in the table.
All attributes are dependent on the primary key.
Dependency Diagram
Dependency Diagram
– The primary key components are bold, underlined, and shaded in a
different color.
– The arrows above entities indicate all desirable dependencies, i.e.,
dependencies that are based on PK.
– The arrows below the dependency diagram indicate less desirable
dependencies -- partial dependencies and transitive dependencies.
First Normal Form (1 NF)
Conversion to first Normal Form
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
EMPLOYEE (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS,
CHG_HOUR, HOURS)
Second Normal Form (2 NF)
Conversion to Second Normal Form
– Starting with the 1NF format, the database can be converted
into the 2NF format by
Writing each key component on a separate line, and then
writing the original key on the last line and
Writing the dependent attributes after each new key.
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS, CHG_HOUR)
ASSIGN (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, HOURS)
Dependency Diagram
Second Normal Form (2 NF)
A table is in 2NF if:
It is in 1NF and
It includes no partial dependencies; that is, no
attribute is dependent on only a portion of the
primary key.
(It is still possible for a table in 2NF to exhibit
transitive dependency; that is, one or more
attributes may be functionally dependent on
nonkey attributes.)
Third Normal Form (3 NF)
Conversion to Third Normal Form
– Create a separate table with attributes in a transitive
functional dependence relationship.
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
ASSIGN (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, HOURS)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS)
JOB (JOB_CLASS, CHG_HOUR)
Third Normal Form (3 NF)
3NF Definition
– A table is in 3NF if:
It is in 2NF and
It contains no transitive dependencies.
The Completed
Database
Relational Schema
SUMMARY
The Initial 1NF Structure
Identifying the Possible PK Attributes
Table Structures Based On
The Selected PKs