The Normalization Guidelines

Basically, the normalization guidelines are a set of data design standards called the normal forms. Five normal forms are widely accepted, although many more have been proposed. Making your tables match these standards is called normalization.

The normal forms progress in order from first through fifth. Each form implies that the requirements of the previous forms have been met. If you follow normalization rule number one, your data will be in first normal form. If you follow normalization rule number three, your data will be in third normal form as well as in first and second normal form.

Following the normalization guidelines usually means splitting tables into two or more tables with fewer columns, designing primary ...

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