MySQL + SQL · Lesson 29
Denormalization in Database Design
What is Denormalization?
Denormalization is intentionally adding some redundancy back into a normalized database to make reads faster. It trades storage and update-complexity for query speed.
Why Denormalize?
- Fewer joins → faster SELECT queries.
- Good for reporting/dashboards that read a lot.
- Used when read speed matters more than perfect normalization.
The Trade-off
Denormalization speeds up reads but makes updates harder (you must update the duplicated data in several places) and uses more storage.
Summary
- Denormalization adds controlled redundancy for faster reads.
- Trade-off: faster SELECTs but harder updates and more storage.