Question

As a database designer, denormalization can be considered when balancing what?

Answer 1

Denormalization by a database designer involves balancing improved system performance with the trade-offs of data redundancy. It is considered when performance gains from having redundant data outweigh the costs of maintaining normalized structures. Analyzing underutilized tables helps identify potential denormalization candidates.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a database designer, denormalization can be considered when balancing the need for improved performance (such as faster query responses) against the principles of normalization which aim to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity. Denormalization involves intentionally introducing redundancy into a database for the sake of performance. This trade-off is often considered when system performance becomes a critical factor and the overhead of joining multiple normalized tables significantly outweighs the disadvantages of data redundancy.

In the context of denormalization, choosing when to employ it requires a careful analysis of the database usage patterns. Identifying the most underutilized resources relative to their input numbers can highlight areas where denormalization might be beneficial. For example, a table that is read frequently but updated infrequently could be a candidate for denormalization if it can improve read times without substantially impacting overall system integrity or update costs.

Answer 2

Denormalization is a database design strategy used to optimize performance by introducing redundancy, which can be particularly beneficial for tables that are underutilized in their normalized form due to a high number of queries relative to updates.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a database designer, denormalization can be considered when balancing the trade-off between normalization and the need for optimized performance. Normalization is the process of organizing database tables to reduce data redundancy and improve data integrity. However, a fully normalized database can sometimes lead to performance issues due to the excessive number of joins needed when querying. Denormalization is the conscious decision to allow some redundancy in a database design to improve database performance.

Denormalization may come into play in scenarios where read performance is more critical than write performance. For instance, if a table receives a high number of queries relative to updates and inserts, it might stand out as being underutilized in its normalized form. In such cases, denormalization can optimize query performance by reducing the complexity of database operations, often at the expense of increased storage and maintenance overhead.