How do you normalize data for web apps?

1 What is normalization?

Normalization is a set of rules and principles that guide how to design and modify data models, such as tables, columns, keys, and relationships. The main goal of normalization is to eliminate or minimize data anomalies, such as duplication, inconsistency, or dependency. Data anomalies can cause problems such as wasted storage space, increased update errors, or reduced query efficiency. By applying normalization, you can ensure that your data is accurate, reliable, and easy to maintain.

2 Why normalize data for web apps?

Web apps often need to handle and manipulate data from different sources, formats, and structures. For example, you might have a web app that collects user feedback, integrates with a third-party API, and displays data from a relational database. Without normalization, you might end up with data that is redundant, inconsistent, or dependent on other data. This can affect the functionality, performance, and security of your web app. For instance, you might have to write more code to validate, transform, or join data, or you might expose sensitive data to unauthorized users. By normalizing data, you can avoid these issues and make your web app more efficient, scalable, and secure.

3 How to normalize data for web apps?

Normalization is a process of structuring data models that is divided into different levels, called normal forms. Each normal form has criteria that must be met for a certain degree of normalization. The higher the normal form, the more normalized the data model is; however, this can come at a cost of performance due to increased joins or queries. Therefore, you should choose the right level of normalization for your web app based on data requirements and use cases. Common techniques include First Normal Form (1NF), which requires each table to have a primary key that uniquely identifies each record and each column to have a single and atomic value. Second Normal Form (2NF) requires that each table is in 1NF and each column not part of the primary key is fully dependent on the primary key. Third Normal Form (3NF) requires that each table is in 2NF and each column not part of the primary key is not transitively dependent on another column. Beyond 3NF are higher levels such as Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF), Fourth Normal Form (4NF), and Fifth Normal Form (5NF). However, these are less commonly used and may not be necessary for most web app data models. You should consider the benefits and costs of applying higher levels of normalization to your web app data based on your specific needs and scenarios.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?