Database Foundations

1-4
Relational Databases and Normalization

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Roadmap
Types of
Introduction to Database
Introduction Databases Models

Database Business
Relational
Storage Requirements
Databases and
Normalization Structures

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Objectives
This lesson covers the following objectives:
• Describe the features of a relational database
• Explain the rules of a relational database
• Explain the objectives of normalization
• Describe the types of normalization

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Introduction to Relational Databases
• A relational database stores information in tables with
rows and columns.
• A table is a collection of records.
• A row is called a record (or instance).
• A column is referred to as a field (or attribute).

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Relational Database Example
Order Detail Table
Order Detail ID Order Details Customer ID

A relational database
consists of tables that are
Customer Table linked by a common
attribute.
Customer ID Customer Name Customer Address

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Rules for Relational Databases
• Each table has a distinct name.
• Each table may contain multiple rows.
• Each table has a value to uniquely identify the rows.
• Each column in a table has a unique name.

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Normalization
• Is the process of organizing the attributes and tables of
a relational database to minimize redundancy.
• Helps in handling insert, update, and delete anomalies,
ensuring a better performance of the database.

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Objectives of Normalization
• To free the collection of tables from undesirable
insertion, update, and deletion dependencies
• To reduce the need for restructuring the collection of
relations, as new types of data are introduced, and thus
increase the life span of application programs
• To make the relational model more informative to users
• To make the collection of tables neutral to the query
statistics, where these statistics are liable to change as
time goes by
As specified by E.F. Codd

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Advantages of a Relational Database
• Avoids duplication of data
• Ensures consistency of the data that is stored as records
• Easier to modify data and data format
• Easier to insert and delete data
• Easier to maintain security of data

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Data Integrity
• Data integrity is a very essential function of relational
databases.
• Data integrity:
– Ensures that data is accurate.
– Ensures that data is consistent.
– Is achieved through normalization, defined business rules, and
validated data.

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Quiz
Data integrity ensures the accuracy of information.
a. True
b. False

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Relational Databases and Normalization
Summary
In this lesson, you should have learned how to:
• Describe the features of a relational database
• Explain the rules of a relational database
• Explain the objectives of normalization
• Describe the types of normalization

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Relational Databases and Normalization