Is database normalization still "the thing?"
When I studied during a databases course we were taught all levels of normalization and were said that we must always do it.
Now, with all the NoSQL movement, it seems normalization is no longer the thing to do?
It depends on what type of application(s) are using the database.
For OLTP apps (principally data entry, with many INSERTs, UPDATEs and DELETES, along with SELECTs), normalized is generally a good thing.
For OLAP and reporting apps, normalization is not helpful. SELECT queries will run much more quickly against a denormalized schema, which could be achieved with views.
You might also find some helpful information in these very popular similar questions:
Should I normalize my DB or not?
In terms of databases, is “Normalize for correctness, denormalize for performance” a right mantra?
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