AI engineering glossary · SQL databases
What is denormalization?
Denormalization: Deliberately storing duplicated or precomputed data, against normal form rules, to make reads faster by avoiding joins. It trades extra storage and harder updates for speed and is common in reporting and NoSQL designs.
Denormalization: an example
Storing customer_name on every order row so order lists need no join, and accepting that name changes must update many rows.
Related terms
More SQL databases terms
- Dirty read
- DISTINCT
- DML
- Document database
- Entity-relationship model
- Eventual consistency
- EXCEPT
- Execution plan
Where you learn it
Denormalization is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.