Relational database schema normalization is NOT for :

2016

Relational database schema normalization is NOT for :

  1. A.

    reducing the number of joins required to satisfy a query.

  2. B.

    eliminating uncontrolled redundancy of data stored in the database.

  3. C.

    eliminating number of anomalies that could otherwise occur with inserts and deletes.

  4. D.

    ensuring that functional dependencies are enforced.

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Correct answer: A

Answer: The correct statement that is NOT a purpose of normalization is: "reducing the number of joins required to satisfy a query."

Why: Normalization is intended to organize a relational schema to remove redundancy, prevent anomalies, and make functional dependencies explicit. These goals often require decomposing a table into multiple related tables, which can increase the number of joins needed to reconstruct combined information at query time. Therefore, minimizing joins is not an objective of normalization; it is a trade-off between data integrity and query performance.

  • Eliminating uncontrolled redundancy of data stored in the database: Normalization removes repeated storage of the same facts.

  • Eliminating anomalies that could occur with inserts, updates, and deletes: Well-normalized schemas reduce these anomalies by separating unrelated data.

  • Ensuring functional dependencies are enforced: Normal forms are defined using functional dependencies, and normalization enforces correct dependency structure.

Short example: A single table storing customer and order details may be decomposed into a customers table and an orders table to avoid repeating customer data for every order. This reduces redundancy and anomalies, but reconstructing customer+order views requires joining the two tables.

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