Chapter 5
• Normalization
• An Normalization
example
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Learning Objectives
• What normalization is and what role it plays in
the database design process
• About the normal forms 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF,
and 4NF
• How normal forms can be transformed from
lower normal forms to higher normal forms
• That normalization and ER modeling are used
concurrently to produce a good database design
• That some situations require denormalization to
generate information efficiently
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Normalization
A process for evaluating and correcting table
structure
Minimize data redundancy
Eliminate Anomalies
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Is Normalization Necessary?
NO
But it is helpful to maintain data integrity and
consistency
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Anomalies
• Update—requires update in multiple
locations
• Deletion—A deletion may lose important
information
• Insertion—Requires complete definitions,
ie does see page 187 (an employee can
not be entered unless he is assigned a
project
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Normalization Process
• 1st NF
• 2nd NF
• 3rd NF
• Almost for 90-98% application 3rd NF is
sufficient
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Dependency
When an attribute value depends on
attribute B then B is dependent on A
A---B
or values of B can be determined by value of
A, reverse may or may not be true
Ex:
ssn--Name
SSN, CID--Grade
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Un-normalized relation
Remove REPEATING groups
1st NF
Remove PARTIAL dependency
2nd NF
Remove TRANSIENT dependency
3rd NF
Every determinant is a candidate key
Boyce-CODD NF
If we can convert a relation into 3NF almost 90-98% of anomalies are removed
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The Need for Normalization
(continued)
• Structure of data set in Figure 5.1 does not
handle data very well
• The table structure appears to work; report
is generated with ease
• Unfortunately, the report may yield
different results, depending on what data
anomaly has occurred
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1st NF
• Remove repeating groups
ASSIGNMENT
(Proj_num,
proj_name(Emp_num,E_name,job_class,c
hg_hours,Hour))
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A Dependency Diagram:
First Normal Form (1NF)
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Second Normal Form (2NF)
Conversion Results
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Third Normal Form (3NF)
Conversion Results
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Un-normalized form
A relation is in un-normalized form, if it contains repeating group
Typically shown in parentheses
Ex: PART NO DESC.
VENDOR-NAME ADDRESS UNIT-COST
1234
LOGIC
chip
INTEL
LSI LOGIC
5678
MEMORY INTEL
chip
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SAN JOSE 150.00
SAN JOSE 120.00
SAN JOSE
50.00
14
SUPPLIER
(Part_no, Part_DESC, (Vendor_name,
Vendor_address, Unit_cost))
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Another Way
(Part_NO, V_NAME)-> Unit_cost
Part_NO->P_Desc (Partial dependency)
V-Name->V_DESC (Partial Dependency)
Part_NO
P-DESC
V_NAME
V_ADDRESS
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UNIT_COST
16
1st NF
A relation is in 1st NF if it does NOT contain any repeating groups
(Part_no, Part_DESC, (Vendor_name, Vendor_address, Unit_cost))
1st NF..remove repeating groups
Break it into TWO relations
One without repeating group and
ONE with repeating group AND PK of other relation
S1 (Part_no, Part_DESC)
S2 (Vendor_name, Part_no, Vendor_address, Unit_cost
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2nd NF
A relation is in 2nf NF if it is in 1stNF and it does not
contain any partial dependency
Partial dependency: A partial dependency exists if an
attribute is dependent ONLY on PART of the PK and the
WHOLE PK
We must examine each relation for partial dependency
NOTE: A partial dependency can only exist if there are
more than ONE attribute as PK
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S1 (Part_no, Part_DESC)
S2 (Vendor_name, Part_no, Vendor_address,
Unit_cost
Note S1 is already in 2nd NF since there is only
attribute as PK
In S2:
Question is Vendor_address dependent on BOTH
vendor_name AND Part_NO?
Question is Unit_price dependent on BOTH
vendor_name AND Part_NO?
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Question is Vendor_address dependent on BOTH
vendor_name AND Part_NO?
Answer: NO
Give me vendor_no and I can find
vendor_address, we do NOT need Part_No to
know vendor_address, ie Vendor_address
depends ONLY Vendor_name, hence the partial
dependency
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Question is Unit_price dependent on BOTH
vendor_name AND Part_NO?
YES if you examine the table, price changes
with vendor and part_no, ie price depnds
on both Part_no AND which vendor
supplies it
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Remove Partial Dependency
VENDOR _ADDRESS
VENDOR_name
UNIT_PRICE
PART#
Create TWO tables:
One with Partial dependency and other without it
S21 (Vendor_name, vendor_address)
S22(Vendor_name, Part_no, Unit_price)
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3rd NF
A relation is in 3rd NF if it is in 2nd NF and it
does not contain any transitive
dependency
Transitive dependency: A transitive
dependency exists when some of the nonkey attributes are dependent on other nonkey attributes
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So far we have three relations that are in
at least 2nd NF
S1 (Part_no, Part_DESC)
S21 (Vendor_name, vendor_address)
S22(Vendor_name, Part_no, Unit_price)
S1, S21 & S22 are also in 3rd NF since there
is ONLY ONE non_key attribute and
transitive dependency can NOT exist
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ERD
PART
PART-SUPPLIED
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VENDOR
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Q6/p 184
A Using notation from the book
a. (C1, C3)- C2,C4,C5
(i.e., C2, C4, C5) are functionally dependent on C1 and C3
Above relation is in at least 1stNF, since there are No
repeating groups
C1C2 there is PARTIAL dependency since C2 depends
on PART of the PK and the whole PK
C4--C5 (transitive dependency since C5 ( a non-PK
attribute) depends on another non-PK attribute (C4)
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Part b
Table 1
C1
Primary key: C1
Foreign key: None
Normal form: 3NF
C2
Table 2
C1
C3
C4
C5
Primary key: C1 + C3
Foreign key: C1 (to Table 1)
Normal form: 2NF, because the
table exhibits the transitive
dependencies C4
C5
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Part c
C1
C1
C3
C4
C2
Table 1
Primary key: C1
Foreign key: None
Normal form: 3NF
C4
Table 2
Primary key: C1 + C3
Foreign key: C1 (to Table 1)
C4 (to Table 3)
Normal form: 3NF
C5
Table 3
Primary key: C4
Foreign key: None
Normal form: 3NF
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Q8/P187
Table P5.8 Sample ITEM Records
Sample Value
Sample Value
Sample Value
ITEM_ID
231134-678
342245-225
254668-449
ITEM_LABEL
HP DeskJet 895Cse
HP Toner
DT Scanner
ROOM_NUMBER
325
325
123
BLDG_CODE
NTC
NTC
CSF
BLDG_NAME
Nottooclear
Nottoclear
Canseefar
BLDG_MANAGER
I. B. Rightonit
I. B. Rightonit
May B. Next
Attribute Name
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Problem 8 Solution
ITEM_ID ITEM_DESCRIPTION BLDG_ROOM BLDG_CODE BLDG_NAME BLDG_MANAGER
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ITEM_ID ITEM_DESCRIPTION BLDG_ROOM BLDG_CODE BLDG_NAME BLDG_MANAGER
Problem 9 Solution: All tables in 3NF
ITEM_ID ITEM_DESCRIPTION BLDG_ROOM BLDG_CODE
BLDG_CODE BLDG_NAME
EMP_CODE
EMP_CODE
EMP_LNAME EMP_FNAME
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EMP_INITIAL
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1
EMPLOYEE
(0,N)
manages
M
(1,1)
M
1
BUILDING
contains
(0,N)
EMPLOYEE
EMP_CODE
EMP_INITIAL
(1,1)
BUILDING
1
BLDG_CODE
EMP_LNAME
EMP_FNAME
ITEM
M
ITEM
1
ITEM_ID
BLDG_NAME
ITEM_DESCRIPTION
EMP_CODE
ITEM_ROOM
M
BLDG_CODE
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Denormalization
• Reversing normalization
• i.e from 3rd NF to 2nd NF
• Or 2nd to 1st NF
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Convert into 3NF
INVOICE
(Inv_num,
cust_num,lastname,Firstname,street,city,st
ate,zip,date,(partnum,
description,price,numshipped))
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