What is normalization in the context of databases?

Solution

Normalization is a systematic approach to organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and dependency. It involves dividing large tables into smaller, related tables and defining relationships between them. The main goals of normalization are to eliminate redundant data, ensure that data dependencies make sense, and protect the integrity of the data. This process is achieved through various normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF, etc.), each building upon the previous form and adding more strict rules to enhance data integrity. Option A is incorrect because creating multiple copies relates to data redundancy, which normalization seeks to minimize. Option C is incorrect as encryption is unrelated to normalization; it focuses on data security, not organization. Option D is incorrect because merging databases is a different process not related to normalization. Option E is incorrect because while normalization can indirectly improve performance by reducing redundancy, its primary focus is on data organization and integrity.