AI engineering glossary · SQL databases
What is normalization?
Normalization (also called Database normalisation): The process of organising tables so each fact is stored once, by splitting data into related tables following rules called normal forms. It reduces duplication and prevents update, insert and delete anomalies.
Normalization: an example
Storing customer city only in customers, not repeated on every order row, means a change of address needs one update.
Related terms
More SQL databases terms
- NoSQL
- NOT NULL
- NULL
- Object-relational mapper
- One-to-many relationship
- ORDER BY
- Parameterised query
- PARTITION BY
Where you learn it
Normalization is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.