Database Design: Normalization, Indexing, and Tuning
Database Design: Normalization, Indexing, and Tuning Clear database design helps data stay clean and queries stay fast. By balancing normalization, smart indexing, and thoughtful tuning, you can support growth without chaos. This guide uses plain language and small examples you can apply in many projects. Normalization keeps data in small, well defined tables. It reduces duplication and makes updates reliable. Start with 1NF, which means each column holds a single value and records do not contain repeating groups. For example, a single row should not list three product names in one column. Move to 2NF by ensuring every non‑key attribute depends on the whole primary key, so split information into related tables like Customers and Orders. Finally, 3NF removes transitive dependencies, so attributes depend only on keys (for instance, a customer region is linked via a Regions table). The result is a flexible schema that stays coherent as you add more data. ...