Which statement best describes normalization in database design?

• A. Normalization increases redundancy to speed queries.
• B. Denormalization reduces redundancy.
• C. Normalization reduces redundancy by organizing data into related tables with keys, preserving data integrity.
• D. Normalization eliminates the need for constraints.

Answer: (C)

Normalization organizes data to minimize duplication and avoid update anomalies by splitting data into related tables and using keys to connect them. By storing each fact in one place and linking tables with primary keys and foreign keys, changes propagate correctly and inconsistencies are avoided, which preserves data integrity. This approach reduces redundancy because related information isn’t repeated across a single large table, and it enforces consistency through defined relationships. The described idea—reducing redundancy by structuring data into related tables with keys and maintaining data integrity—best captures what normalization does. It’s not about increasing redundancy or denormalization, nor does normalization remove the need for constraints; constraints help enforce the correct relationships between the tables.