Lecture 4. Schema normalization

Readings:

• The reading for this lecture is Chapter 19 ("Schema Refinement and Normal Forms") of Ramakrishnan and Gehrke. Third Ed. Focus only on subsections 19.1 through 19.7.

CANCELLED: No review required. If you cannot get your hands on the book by Wednesday, please read the material whenever you have the chance after lecture. As you read this chapter, consider the following questions:

• What is a functional dependency?
• How are functional dependencies helpful when refining the schema of a relation?
• What anomalies can occur in a relation in 3NF that cannot occur in a relation in BCNF?
• Why is 3NF sometimes preferable to BCNF?

Lecture notes:

• lecture4.pdf

Additional resources:

• Chapter 2 in the R&G book.