How does normalization affect the storage space of a database?

Normalization typically decreases the storage needs of a database by minimizing data redundancy through the systematic organization of data into tables. When a database is normalized, it involves breaking down larger tables into smaller, more manageable ones while establishing relationships between them. This means that instead of repeating the same data in multiple rows and tables, each piece of data is stored only once.

By eliminating duplicate data, normalization reduces the overall amount of space required since there are fewer copies of the same information stored in the database. Additionally, normalization can help improve data integrity and ensure that updates, deletions, or insertions are handled more efficiently because changes need to be made in only one place.

Although normalization can occasionally lead to a slight increase in storage space due to the overhead of additional tables and relationships, the overall effect is typically a net decrease in storage needs due to the reduced duplication of data.