What is an effect of high normalization in OLTP databases?

High normalization in Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) databases is primarily intended to minimize redundancy and ensure data integrity. When a database is highly normalized, it organizes data into related tables with defined relationships, ensuring that each piece of data is stored only once. This approach reduces the likelihood of anomalies—such as insertion, update, and deletion anomalies—thereby maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the data.

In the context of OLTP systems, which are designed for managing transaction-oriented applications, high normalization supports the need for accurate and reliable data transactions. For instance, when multiple users access and manipulate shared data, maintaining integrity through optimized transactions becomes crucial. Normalization effectively addresses this requirement, making transactions more reliable.

Additionally, while high normalization can introduce complexities and may affect query efficiency due to the need for joins across multiple tables, its primary purpose is to enhance data integrity and consistency—ensuring that every transaction adheres to established business rules. Thus, optimizing transactions for data integrity aligns perfectly with the goals of high normalization in OLTP databases.