Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)

Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF) is a higher level of database normalization than the Third Normal Form (3NF). BCNF ensures that a relational database table is free from certain types of anomalies and redundancy by eliminating partial and transitive functional dependencies. A table is in BCNF if, for every non-trivial functional dependency X -> Y, X is a superkey.

To define BCNF more formally:

1. A table must be in 1NF, which means it should have atomic values in each cell.

2. A table must be in 2NF, which means it should not have partial dependencies.

3. A table must be in 3NF, which means it should not have transitive dependencies.

4. For any non-trivial functional dependency X -> Y in the table, X must be a superkey.

Here's an example to illustrate BCNF:

Consider a table called Courses with the following attributes:

CourseID	Instructor	InstructorOffice	Department
101	Dr. Smith	Office A	Math
102	Dr. Johnson	Office B	Physics
103	Dr. White	Office C	Chemistry

In this table:

• CourseID is the primary key.

• Instructor is functionally dependent on CourseID.

• InstructorOffice is functionally dependent on Instructor.

• Department is functionally dependent on CourseID.

Now, let's analyze whether this table is in BCNF.

1. It is in 1NF because it contains only atomic values.

2. It is in 2NF because it doesn't have partial dependencies.

3. It is in 3NF because it doesn't have transitive dependencies.

However, it is not in BCNF because of the functional dependency Instructor -> InstructorOffice. In BCNF, every non-trivial functional dependency X -> Y should have X as a superkey. In this case, Instructor is not a superkey because two courses can have the same instructor. Therefore, we need to decompose the table into two tables to achieve BCNF:

Table: Courses

CourseID	Instructor	Department
101	Dr. Smith	Math
102	Dr. Johnson	Physics
103	Dr. White	Chemistry

Table: Instructors

Instructor	InstructorOffice
Dr. Smith	Office A
Dr. Johnson	Office B
Dr. White	Office C

Now, each table is in BCNF, and the functional dependency Instructor -> InstructorOffice holds because Instructor is the primary key in the Instructors table. This decomposition ensures that BCNF is satisfied and eliminates redundancy and potential anomalies.