AI engineering glossary · SQL databases
What is 3NF (third normal form)?
Third normal form (also called 3NF): A table meets this form if it satisfies the second form and non-key columns depend only on the key, not on other non-key columns. It removes transitive dependencies. It is the usual target in business database design.
Third normal form: an example
If employees stores dept_id and dept_name, dept_name depends on dept_id, so it should live in a departments table.
Related terms
More SQL databases terms
Where you learn it
Third normal form is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.