What role does normalization play in optimizing your database queries?
When it comes to managing databases, optimizing queries is paramount for performance. One key aspect of this is normalization, a process that structures a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. But how exactly does normalization influence query optimization? It's a matter of balancing the design to ensure that your database isn't just free of unnecessary data duplication, but also structured in a way that queries can be executed more efficiently. Understanding the role of normalization can help you fine-tune your database to handle requests swiftly and reliably, making it a critical skill in database administration.