Databases Reference
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1NF
2NF
3NF
BCNF
4NF
5NF
BCNF and 5NF are the important ones
(at least until further notice)
Fig. 3.3: The normal form hierarchy (I)
All of the normal forms apart from 1NF are defined in terms of certain dependencies (in this context, just
another term for integrity constraints). The principal dependencies are functional dependencies (FDs) and
join dependencies (JDs). Note: The terms dependence and dependency are used interchangeably in the
literature. I'll stick with dependency in this topic.
To elaborate briefly on the previous point: FDs are the basis for defining BCNF, and JDs are the basis for
defining 5NF. As the figure states, BCNF and 5NF are the most important normal forms (at least until
further notice).
It's possible for a relvar to be in n th normal form and not in ( n +1)st ( n = 1, …, 4).
If relvar R is in ( n +1)st normal form, then it's certainly in n th ( n = 1, …, 4). In other words, fifth normal
form (5NF) implies fourth normal form (4NF), and so on. It follows that to say that, e.g., relvar R is in
BCNF doesn't preclude the possibility that R is in 5NF as well. In practice, however, it's common for
statements to the effect that relvar R is in, say, BCNF to be taken to mean that R is in BCNF and not in any
higher normal form . Please note carefully, therefore, that I do not adopt this usage in this topic.
If relvar R is in n th normal form and not in ( n +1)st ( n = 1, …, 4), then it can always be decomposed via
projection, in a nonloss way, such that (a) the projections are, typically, in ( n +1)st normal form and (b) R is
equal to the join of those projections.
Finally, it follows from the previous point that any given relvar R can always be decomposed into 5NF
projections in particular. In other words, 5NF is always achievable.
A note on the concept of redundancy: In Chapter 1, I said design theory is largely about reducing
redundancy, and I've referred to the concept repeatedly in the present chapter; in particular, I've said the higher the
level of normalization, the more redundancy is prevented. But coming up with a precise definition of redundancy
seems to be quite difficult—much more so, in fact, than I think is appropriate for this early point in the topic. For
 
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