What is the primary goal of database normalization?

The primary goal of database normalization is to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. Normalization is a systematic approach to organizing data in a database to minimize duplication and dependency. By breaking down a database into smaller, manageable tables and ensuring that relationships between the data are logically structured, normalization eliminates repetitive groups and ensures that changes to data are reflected consistently throughout the database.

Focusing on reducing redundancy prevents issues such as data anomalies, where updates to one instance of a duplicated piece of information might not be reflected elsewhere, leading to inconsistencies. Improved data integrity results from ensuring that the database is logically sound, which means that it accurately reflects the requirements of the application and maintains accuracy and reliability of the data.

While other aspects such as processing speed, security, and accessibility are important considerations in database management, they are not the main objectives of the normalization process. Normalization prioritizes data organization and quality, which serves as a foundation for other performance and security optimizations.