1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Databases
Second Normal Form (2NF)
<Back to Last Page>     <Full Glossary>

 Related Terms
• Normalization
• First Normal Form
• Third Normal Form
 
 
Definition: In order to be in Second Normal Form, a relation must first fulfill the requirements to be in First Normal Form.  Additionally, each nonkey attribute in the relation must be functionally dependent upon the primary key.

Example: The following relation is in First Normal Form, but not Second Normal Form:

Order # Customer Contact Person Total
1 Acme Widgets John Doe $134.23
2 ABC Corporation Fred Flintstone $521.24
3 Acme Widgets John Doe $1042.42
4 Acme Widgets John Doe $928.53

In the table above, the order number serves as the primary key.  Notice that  the customer and total amount are dependent upon the order number -- this data is specific to each order.  However, the contact person is dependent upon the customer.  An alternative way to accomplish this would be to create two tables:

Customer Contact Person
Acme Widgets John Doe
ABC Corporation Fred Flintstone

 

Order # Customer Total
1 Acme Widgets $134.23
2 ABC Corporation $521.24
3 Acme Widgets $1042.42
4 Acme Widgets $928.53

The creation of two separate tables eliminates the dependency problem experienced in the previous case.  In the first table, contact person is dependent upon the primary key -- customer name.  The second table only includes the information unique to each order.  Someone interested in the contact person for each order could obtain this information by performing a JOIN operation.

Related Resources:

Database Design
Visit our database design subject page for more on normal forms and normalization

<Back to Last Page>     <Full Glossary>
Explore Databases
About.com Special Features

Stay connected and entertained with reviews on tips on the latest HDTVs, cellphones and more. More >

Easy ways to connect two computers for networking purposes. More >

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Databases

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.