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Psychology

9 Dec 2025

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4 pages

Understanding Normalisation in OCR A-Level Computer Science

Database normalisation is the process of organising data efficiently by eliminating redundancy and ensuring logical relationships between information.... Show more

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

Introduction to Normalisation

Ever wondered why databases don't just throw all information into one massive table? Normalisation is the clever technique that organises database information by breaking down large tables into smaller, more manageable ones.

Without normalisation, databases become absolute nightmares to work with. Imagine trying to update a student's address when it's duplicated across hundreds of rows - you'd miss some and end up with conflicting information everywhere.

Data redundancy (unnecessary repetition of information) makes databases inflexible and prone to errors. The example shows a student table where subjects are crammed into one field, making it impossible to search or sort effectively. This is exactly what normalisation fixes.

Key Point Normalisation makes databases more flexible and allows for complex queries that would be impossible with poorly organised data.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

First and Second Normal Forms

First normal form (1NF) tackles the obvious problem of cramming multiple values into single fields. Each cell should contain only one piece of information - no lists or comma-separated values allowed.

The student example shows this perfectly instead of "Biology, Maths" in one subject field, we create separate rows for each subject. This might seem like we're creating more data, but it's actually making everything searchable and manageable.

Second normal form (2NF) goes further by creating separate tables for different types of information. Student details go in one table, whilst subjects get their own table linked by Student ID.

This separation eliminates massive amounts of data redundancy. Instead of repeating Adam's name, age, and address for every subject he takes, we store his personal details once and link them to his subjects.

Remember Each normal form builds on the previous one - you can't skip steps in the normalisation process.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

Third Normal Form and Final Structure

Third normal form (3NF) removes any information that doesn't directly depend on the primary key. This is where things get really clever - addresses get their own table because they're not truly dependent on the student.

By creating an Address table with postcodes as links, we eliminate even more redundancy. Multiple students living in the same area won't have their full addresses repeated unnecessarily.

The final structure gives us three clean tables Student (personal info), Subject (academic records), and Address (location data). Each serves a specific purpose and connects logically to the others.

This database structure might seem more complex at first glance, but it's incredibly powerful. Updates become simple, searches run faster, and there's virtually no risk of data inconsistencies.

Pro Tip Well-normalised databases save massive amounts of storage space and make queries lightning-fast compared to unnormalised alternatives.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

Psychology

292

9 Dec 2025

4 pages

Understanding Normalisation in OCR A-Level Computer Science

Database normalisation is the process of organising data efficiently by eliminating redundancy and ensuring logical relationships between information. It's essential for creating databases that are easy to update, maintain, and query without losing important data.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

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Introduction to Normalisation

Ever wondered why databases don't just throw all information into one massive table? Normalisation is the clever technique that organises database information by breaking down large tables into smaller, more manageable ones.

Without normalisation, databases become absolute nightmares to work with. Imagine trying to update a student's address when it's duplicated across hundreds of rows - you'd miss some and end up with conflicting information everywhere.

Data redundancy (unnecessary repetition of information) makes databases inflexible and prone to errors. The example shows a student table where subjects are crammed into one field, making it impossible to search or sort effectively. This is exactly what normalisation fixes.

Key Point: Normalisation makes databases more flexible and allows for complex queries that would be impossible with poorly organised data.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

First and Second Normal Forms

First normal form (1NF) tackles the obvious problem of cramming multiple values into single fields. Each cell should contain only one piece of information - no lists or comma-separated values allowed.

The student example shows this perfectly: instead of "Biology, Maths" in one subject field, we create separate rows for each subject. This might seem like we're creating more data, but it's actually making everything searchable and manageable.

Second normal form (2NF) goes further by creating separate tables for different types of information. Student details go in one table, whilst subjects get their own table linked by Student ID.

This separation eliminates massive amounts of data redundancy. Instead of repeating Adam's name, age, and address for every subject he takes, we store his personal details once and link them to his subjects.

Remember: Each normal form builds on the previous one - you can't skip steps in the normalisation process.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Third Normal Form and Final Structure

Third normal form (3NF) removes any information that doesn't directly depend on the primary key. This is where things get really clever - addresses get their own table because they're not truly dependent on the student.

By creating an Address table with postcodes as links, we eliminate even more redundancy. Multiple students living in the same area won't have their full addresses repeated unnecessarily.

The final structure gives us three clean tables: Student (personal info), Subject (academic records), and Address (location data). Each serves a specific purpose and connects logically to the others.

This database structure might seem more complex at first glance, but it's incredibly powerful. Updates become simple, searches run faster, and there's virtually no risk of data inconsistencies.

Pro Tip: Well-normalised databases save massive amounts of storage space and make queries lightning-fast compared to unnormalised alternatives.

PA
C
●
Normalisation Revision notes
Normalisation - the technique of organising data in a database
o a method of decomposing tables to elimi

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

We thought you’d never ask...

What is the Knowunity AI companion?

Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.

Where can I download the Knowunity app?

You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Is Knowunity really free of charge?

That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.

5

Smart Tools NEW

Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines

Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay

Most popular content in Psychology

Most popular content

English - inspector calls quotes and analysis

Quotes from every main character

English LiteratureEnglish Literature
10

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user