FIRST NORMAL FORM Meaning and
Definition
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First Normal Form (1NF) is a fundamental concept in relational database design that defines the basic requirements for organizing data in a tabular format. It is the initial step in the database normalization process, which helps eliminate data redundancy, improve data integrity, and ensure efficient data manipulation.
In 1NF, a relation (table) is considered to be in this form if it satisfies the following conditions:
1. Atomic Values: Each attribute (column) within a table should contain only single, indivisible values. This means that each value should not have any sub-parts or be a combination of multiple values.
2. Unique Row Identifier: Every table must have a primary key which uniquely identifies each row. This ensures that each record can be uniquely identified and accessed without ambiguity.
By adhering to these principles, 1NF ensures data consistency, eliminates data anomalies, and supports efficient querying of the database. However, it does not eliminate all data redundancy or provide optimal performance, which is where higher normal forms, such as second normal form (2NF) and third normal form (3NF), come into play. These subsequent normal forms further eliminate redundancy and improve the organization of data, providing a more reliable and efficient database structure.
