What does database normalization primarily help with?

Database normalization primarily helps with eliminating data redundancy. This process involves organizing the data in a database to minimize duplication and dependency. By structuring the data into related tables and establishing relationships, normalization ensures that each piece of data is stored only once. This not only conserves storage space but also enhances data integrity, as updates to a particular piece of information need to be made in just one location rather than multiple places.

When redundancy is reduced, it leads to a cleaner and more efficient database design, making it easier to maintain. Moreover, this can improve the consistency of the data since there are fewer chances of discrepancies when changes are made. Although normalization can have secondary benefits, such as potentially improving query performance and reducing complexity depending on the query design, its primary goal is focused on eliminating redundant data storage.