Which statement best describes data normalization?

Which statement best describes data normalization?

• A. Storing all data in a single table for speed.
• B. Organizing data to reduce redundancy by separating into related tables (e.g., customer info and orders with a foreign key).
• C. Encrypting data for security only.
• D. Duplicating data across tables for replication.

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is organizing data to minimize redundancy by dividing it into related tables and using keys to link them. This approach keeps each piece of data in one place, so updating customer details only happens in one table and orders simply reference the corresponding customer through a key. That reduces inconsistencies and storage waste, and it makes maintaining data integrity easier as the database grows. The other statements miss the point: putting everything in one big table creates duplicate data and update anomalies; focusing on security like encryption isn’t about how data is structured or related; duplicating data across tables increases redundancy again and undermines consistency. So the description that emphasizes organizing data into related tables with links is the right description of normalization.

The idea being tested is organizing data to minimize redundancy by dividing it into related tables and using keys to link them. This approach keeps each piece of data in one place, so updating customer details only happens in one table and orders simply reference the corresponding customer through a key. That reduces inconsistencies and storage waste, and it makes maintaining data integrity easier as the database grows. The other statements miss the point: putting everything in one big table creates duplicate data and update anomalies; focusing on security like encryption isn’t about how data is structured or related; duplicating data across tables increases redundancy again and undermines consistency. So the description that emphasizes organizing data into related tables with links is the right description of normalization.