Normal Forms - defined simply

Normal Forms – Basic Rules and Solutions

First Normal Form (1NF)

A relation schema R is in 1NF if and only if,

• All the attributes of the relation are atomic (indivisible into meaningful sub parts),
• Every attribute contains single value (per record).

How to convert un-normalized table into 1NF normalized table?

Expand the table by duplicating records for every value of multi-valued attributes (Flatten the table).

Second Normal Form (2NF)

A relation schema R is in 2NF if and only if,

• At the first place the table is in 1NF,
• All the non-key attributes of the table are fully functionally dependent on the Primary key of the table.

How to convert un-normalized or 1NF table into 2NF normalized table?

It can be done using decomposition. That is, by breaking Non-2NF relations into smaller tables using the Functional Dependencies derived.

Third Normal Form (3NF)

A relation schema R is in 3NF if and only if,

• The table is in 2NF,
• There is no Functional Dependency such that both Left Hand Side and Right Hand Side attributes of the FD are non-key attributes. In other words, no transitive dependency is allowed.

How to convert un-normalized or 2NF table into 3NF normalized table?

It can be done using decomposition. That is, by breaking Non-3NF relations into smaller tables using the Functional Dependencies derived. Especially, by creating a separate table for non-key attributes dependencies.

Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)

A relation schema R is in BCNF if an only if,

• The table is in 3NF
• For all the non-trivial FDs held on R, the left hand side of those non-trivial FDs must be Candidate Keys. 

*********

Related Links

• Go to Normalization - Home page

• Go to Normalization Solved Exercises - Home page

• Go to Comparison of All Normal Forms page

Normalization in Database Management Systems DBMS - Notes, Tutorials, Examples, Solved Exercises