SQL Server Interview Question #163

What is Second Normal Form (2NF)?

Database Design, Normalization & Advanced SQL Senior Advanced

Detailed Explanation

Second Normal Form requires the table to be in 1NF and requires every non-key attribute to depend on the whole candidate key rather than only part of a composite key.

This issue is mainly relevant when a key contains multiple columns. For example, if an OrderItems table has a composite key of OrderId and ProductId, ProductName depends only on ProductId rather than the whole composite key and normally belongs in Products.