Chapter 5
Normalization of Database Tables
Database Tables and
Normalization
 Normalization is a process for assigning attributes to
entities. It reduces data redundancies and helps eliminate
the data anomalies.
 Normalization works through a series of stages called
normal forms:
– First normal form (1NF)
– Second normal form (2NF)
– Third normal form (3NF)
– Fourth normal form (4NF)
 The highest level of normalization is not always desirable.
Database Tables and Normalization
 The Need for Normalization
– Case of a Construction Company
 Building project -- Project number, Name, Employees
assigned to the project.
 Employee -- Employee number, Name, Job classification
 The company charges its clients by billing the hours spent
on each project. The hourly billing rate is dependent on
the employee’s position.
 Periodically, a report is generated.
 The table whose contents correspond to the reporting
requirements is shown in Table 5.1.
Scenario
A few employees works for
one project.
Project Num : 15
Project Name :
Evergreen
Employee Num :
101, 102, 103,
105
Sample Form
Project Num : 15
Project Name : Evergreen
Emp Num Emp Name Job Class Chr Hours Hrs Billed Total
101
102
103
105

Table Structure Matches
the Report Format
 Problems with the Figure 5.1
– The project number is intended to be a primary key, but it
contains nulls.
– The table displays data redundancies.
– The table entries invite data inconsistencies.
– The data redundancies yield the following anomalies:
 Update anomalies.
 Addition anomalies.
 Deletion anomalies.
Database Tables and Normalization
 Conversion to First Normal Form
– A relational table must not contain repeating groups.
– Repeating groups can be eliminated by adding the
appropriate entry in at least the primary key
column(s).
Database Tables and Normalization
Data Organization: First Normal Form
Before
After
 1NF Definition
– The term first normal form (1NF) describes the
tabular format in which:
 All the key attributes are defined.
 There are no repeating groups in the table.
 All attributes are dependent on the primary key.
First Normal Form (1 NF)
 Dependency Diagram
– The primary key components are bold, underlined, and shaded in
a different color.
– The arrows above entities indicate all desirable dependencies,
i.e., dependencies that are based on PK.
– The arrows below the dependency diagram indicate less
desirable dependencies -- partial dependencies and transitive
dependencies.
Dependency Diagram
 Conversion to Second Normal Form
– Starting with the 1NF format, the database can be converted
into the 2NF format by
 Writing each key component on a separate line, and then
writing the original key on the last line and
 Writing the dependent attributes after each new key.
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS, CHG_HOUR)
ASSIGN (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, HOURS)
Second Normal Form (2 NF)
Dependency Diagram
A table is in 2NF if:
 It is in 1NF and
 It includes no partial dependencies; that is, no
attribute is dependent on only a portion of the
primary key.
(It is still possible for a table in 2NF to exhibit
transitive dependency; that is, one or more
attributes may be functionally dependent on
nonkey attributes.)
Second Normal Form (2 NF)
 Conversion to Third Normal Form
– Create a separate table with attributes in a transitive
functional dependence relationship.
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
ASSIGN (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, HOURS)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS)
JOB (JOB_CLASS, CHG_HOUR)
Third Normal Form (3 NF)
 3NF Definition
– A table is in 3NF if:
 It is in 2NF and
 It contains no transitive dependencies.
Third Normal Form (3 NF)
The Completed
Database
– A table is in Boyce-Codd normal form (BCNF) if every
determinant in the table is a candidate key.
(A determinant is any attribute whose value
determines other values with a row.)
– If a table contains only one candidate key, the 3NF and
the BCNF are equivalent.
– BCNF is a special case of 3NF.
– Figure 5.7 illustrates a table that is in 3NF but not in
BCNF.
– Figure 5.8 shows how the table can be decomposed to
conform to the BCNF form.
Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
A Table That Is In 3NF
But Not In BCNF
The Decomposition of a Table Structure
to Meet BCNF Requirements
Sample Data for a BCNF Conversion
Decomposition into BCNF
 BCNF Definition
– A table is in BCNF if every determinant in that table
is a candidate key. If a table contains only one
candidate key, 3NF and BCNF are equivalent.
BCNF Definition
– Normalization will help us identify correct and
appropriate TABLES.
– Until Now we have 4 tables
Normalization
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
ASSIGN (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, HOURS)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS)
JOB (JOB_CLASS, CHG_HOUR)
– We are going to identify the relationships
between entities (tables) including their
cardinality, connectivity.
– We have to list out the Business Rules.
NEXT ........
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
ASSIGN (PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM, HOURS)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_NAME, JOB_CLASS)
JOB (JOB_CLASS, CHG_HOUR)
Business Rules
 The company manages many projects.
 Each project requires the services of many employees.
 An employee may be assigned to several different
projects.
 Some employees are not assigned to a project and
perform duties not specifically related to a project.
Some employees are part of a labor pool, to be shared
by all project teams.
 Each employee has a (single) primary job
classification. This job classification determines the
hourly billing rate.
 Many employees can have the same job classification.
 Two Initial Entities:
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_LNAME, EMP_FNAME,
EMP_INITIAL, JOB_DESCRIPTION, JOB_CHG_HOUR)
Normalization and Database Design
Three Entities After Transitive Dependency Removed
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_LNAME, EMP_FNAME, EMP_INITIAL,
JOB_CODE)
JOB (JOB_CODE, JOB_DESCRIPTION, JOB_CHG_HOUR)
Normalization and Database Design
The Modified ERD
Creation of Composite Entity ASSIGN
 Attribute ASSIGN_HOUR is assigned to the composite entity
ASSIGN.
 “Manages” relationship is created between EMPLOYEE and
PROJECT.
PROJECT (PROJ_NUM, PROJ_NAME, EMP_NUM)
EMPLOYEE (EMP_NUM, EMP_LNAME, EMP_FNAME, EMP_INITIAL,
EMP_HIREDATE, JOB_CODE)
JOB (JOB_CODE, JOB_DESCRIPTION, JOB_CHG_HOUR)
ASSIGN (ASSIGN_NUM, ASSIGN_DATE, PROJ_NUM, EMP_NUM,
ASSIGN_HOURS)
Normalization and Database Design
Relational Schema
Higher-Level Normal Forms
 4NF Definition
– A table is in 4NF if it is in 3NF and has no multiple sets
of multivalued dependencies.
A Set of Tables in 4NF
Denormalization
 Normalization is only one of many database design
goals.
 Normalized (decomposed) tables require additional
processing, reducing system speed.
 Normalization purity is often difficult to sustain in
the modern database environment. The conflict
between design efficiency, information
requirements, and processing speed are often
resolved through compromises that include
denormalization.
SUMMARY
The Initial 1NF Structure
Identifying the Possible PK Attributes
Table Structures Based On
The Selected PKs