What is the primary purpose of data normalization?

The primary purpose of data normalization is to organize data structurally within a database. This process involves adjusting the data within the database to minimize redundancy and dependency by separating data into distinct tables and defining relationships among them. By doing so, normalization improves data integrity and ensures that the same piece of data is stored only once, which can then be referenced as needed.

While data normalization can sometimes lead to improved performance in data processing due to the organizational benefits it provides, the main goal is not specifically to increase the speed of processing data. Hence, this approach lays the foundation for efficient and effective database management, making it easier to maintain data accuracy over time.

The process does not focus primarily on data privacy, enhancing visual presentation, or directly increasing processing speed although these factors can be inadvertently influenced as a result of having a well-structured database.