What is normalization in databases?

Normalization in databases is a systematic approach of organizing data to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity. The main goal of normalization is to isolate data so that additions, deletions, and modifications can be made in just one table and then propagated through the rest of the database via the defined relationships. It helps in making the database structure flexible by dividing large tables into smaller, and less redundant tables and linking them using relationships.

The process of normalization is achieved through a series of rules known as normal forms. Each normal form addresses a specific issue that can lead to the poor organization of data. The most commonly used normal forms are:

1. First Normal Form (1NF): Ensures that the values in each column of a table are atomic (not divisible). In essence, there are no repeating groups or arrays in a single cell.
2. Second Normal Form (2NF): Requires a table to be in 1NF and also ensures that all non-key attributes are fully functionally dependent on the primary key. This means that each non-key column must depend on all the parts of the primary key for tables where the primary key consists of multiple columns.
3. Third Normal Form (3NF): A table is in 3NF if it is in 2NF and all its columns are not only fully functionally dependent on the primary key but also only on the primary key and nothing else (removing transitive dependency on non-primary key attributes).
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