Final answer:
Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF) is a higher level of normalization used in database design to eliminate data redundancies and anomalies. BCNF deals with partial functional dependency, while 3NF addresses transitive dependency. An example is provided to illustrate the concepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purpose of Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF) is a higher level of normalization used in database design. It is aimed at eliminating certain types of data redundancies and anomalies that can occur in a relational database.
BCNF is used to ensure that every non-trivial functional dependency in a table is a dependency on a superkey. This helps to minimize data redundancies and anomalies, ensuring data integrity.
Difference between BCNF and 3NF
Third Normal Form (3NF) and BCNF are both levels of database normalization. The main difference between them is that BCNF deals with a specific type of dependency called partial functional dependency while 3NF addresses transitive dependency.
Example
Let's consider a table called 'Products' with columns 'ProductID', 'Category', 'Manufacturer', and 'CategoryDescription'. If the CategoryDescription depends only on the Category, we can say that the table is in BCNF. However, if the CategoryDescription depends on both the Category and the Manufacturer, it violates BCNF and needs to be further normalized.