Normalization Example

A database model that implements normal forms avoids those anomalies, and that’s why BCNF or 4NF is recommended. Sometimes, some trade-offs are possible with the normalization process, as in the following example.

Use case: Modeling an address field

Modeling an address field is a practical use case for normalization, where if we want to respect all the rules, we end up with a very complex schema. That said, the answer depends on our application domain; it’s not the same if we’re connecting people to our telecom network, shipping goods, or just invoicing at the given address.

For invoicing, all we need is a text column to store whatever our user is entering. Our only use for that information is going to be for printing invoices, and we’ll be sending the invoice in ...