1NFn

1NFn, also known as 1NF normal form, is a fundamental concept in database normalization, a process used to organize data in a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. The primary goal of 1NF is to ensure that each table in the database contains only atomic (indivisible) values and that each column contains values of a single type. This means that each cell in a table should contain a single value, and there should be no repeating groups or arrays within a single column.

To achieve 1NF, the following steps are typically taken:

1. Eliminate repeating groups: If a table contains repeating groups of data, such as multiple phone numbers or addresses for a single entity, these should be moved to separate tables. This is often done by creating a new table for the repeating group and establishing a relationship between the original table and the new table using a foreign key.

2. Ensure atomicity: Each column in a table should contain only atomic (indivisible) values. For example, if a column contains a full name, it should be split into separate columns for first name and last name.

3. Ensure single-valued columns: Each column in a table should contain values of a single type. For example, a column should not contain both numbers and text.

By following these steps, a database can be brought into 1NF, which is the first step in the normalization process. However, achieving 1NF alone may not be sufficient to eliminate all types of redundancy and ensure data integrity. Further normalization, such as 2NF and 3NF, may be necessary to achieve a higher level of normalization and improve the overall design of the database.