Normalization Comparison Table
Normal Rule / Condition Problem it Example of Result After
Form Solves Violation Applying
1NF - Data must be Eliminates A column “Phone Separate rows
(First atomic (no repeating Numbers” storing for each phone
Normal repeating groups or groups, multi- multiple values like number OR
Form) multivalued valued 98765, 91234. separate table.
attributes).- Each attributes.
row must be
unique.
2NF - Must be in 1NF.- Removes In a table with Split into:
(Second No partial partial (StudentID, Student table
Normal dependency (non- dependency in CourseID) as PK, & Course
Form) key attributes must composite storing Enrollment
depend on the keys. “StudentName” table.
whole primary key, (depends only on
not part of it). StudentID).
3NF - Must be in 2NF.- Removes In an Employee Split into
(Third No transitive transitive table: EmpID → Employee and
Normal dependency (non- dependency. DeptID → Department
Form) key attributes must DeptName. tables.
depend only on the
key, not other non-
key attributes).
BCNF - Stronger version Handles In a table with Create separate
(Boyce- of 3NF.- For every anomalies left (Teacher, Subject), a tables ensuring
Codd functional by 3NF. teacher can only every
Normal dependency X → teach one subject, determinant is
Form) Y, X must be a but multiple teachers a candidate
super key. can teach the same key.
subject.
4NF - Must be in Eliminates A table with Student Split into
(Fourth BCNF.- No multi- redundancy → {Hobby, Student-
Normal valued caused by Language} Hobby and
Form) dependencies multi-valued (independent sets). Student-
(MVDs). facts. Language
tables.
1
5NF - Must be in 4NF.- Eliminates A table storing Break into
(Fifth No join redundancy Project, Supplier, separate
Normal dependency due to complex and Part (can be relations and
Form) anomalies. relationships. broken into smaller rejoin without
relations). redundancy.
6NF - Breaks tables into Used for highly Very rarely used in Each attribute
(Sixth irreducible dynamic data real business apps. stored
Normal components.- with time- separately with
Form) Mostly for variant timestamps.
(rarely temporal databases. attributes.
used)
Summary in Simple Words:
• 1NF → Remove repeating groups.
• 2NF → Remove partial dependency.
• 3NF → Remove transitive dependency.
• BCNF → Stronger 3NF (every determinant must be a candidate key).
• 4NF → Remove multi-valued dependencies.
• 5NF → Remove join dependency anomalies.
• 6NF → Extreme case, used in temporal DB.
