What is the process of restructuring data to maintain consistency?

Normalization is the process of restructuring data to maintain consistency, particularly in database management. It involves organizing the data in a way that reduces redundancy and dependency by dividing large tables into smaller, related tables. This process helps ensure that data is stored efficiently, which enhances data integrity and makes it easier to manage and update information across the system.

When data is normalized, it adheres to certain normal forms, each with specific rules that guide the organization of data to avoid anomalies during insertion, updating, or deletion. By maintaining a consistent structure, it becomes simpler to enforce validation rules, perform queries, and generally facilitate better database performance.

In contrast, integration typically refers to the process of consolidating data from different sources or systems. Discovery involves identifying and cataloging existing IT assets in a network, while service mapping represents the process of mapping the relationships between different services and components used in delivering IT services. These processes do not focus specifically on restructuring data for consistency, which is the core goal of normalization.