What is a key feature of the relational model?

What is a key feature of the relational model?

• A. It supports multiple fact sources
• B. It aims to eliminate redundancy in operational systems
• C. It allows unlimited data types
• D. It is focused solely on non-operational data

Answer: (B)

The relational model is designed with the intent to eliminate redundancy and maintain data integrity. This is achieved through normalization, which organizes data into related tables, ensuring that each piece of information is stored only once to avoid duplication. By structuring data in this way, it not only improves data consistency but also reduces the risk of data anomalies that can occur in operational systems. This focus on reducing redundancy is a fundamental principle of database design that supports efficient data management. The other options do not align with the core features of the relational model. While supporting multiple fact sources may be relevant in data warehousing or other contexts, it is not a defining characteristic of the relational model itself. The notion of allowing unlimited data types does not reflect the nature of relational databases, which have specific data types for each attribute. Lastly, the relational model is not focused solely on non-operational data; rather, it can effectively model both operational and non-operational data across various applications.

The relational model is designed with the intent to eliminate redundancy and maintain data integrity. This is achieved through normalization, which organizes data into related tables, ensuring that each piece of information is stored only once to avoid duplication. By structuring data in this way, it not only improves data consistency but also reduces the risk of data anomalies that can occur in operational systems. This focus on reducing redundancy is a fundamental principle of database design that supports efficient data management.

The other options do not align with the core features of the relational model. While supporting multiple fact sources may be relevant in data warehousing or other contexts, it is not a defining characteristic of the relational model itself. The notion of allowing unlimited data types does not reflect the nature of relational databases, which have specific data types for each attribute. Lastly, the relational model is not focused solely on non-operational data; rather, it can effectively model both operational and non-operational data across various applications.