What is essential for conducting an effective review of a database?

Understanding the purpose of each table in a database is crucial for conducting an effective review. This knowledge allows a reviewer to evaluate how the data is structured, how it flows between tables, and how it ultimately supports the business processes or applications that rely on that data. By comprehending the function of each table, an individual can assess its relevance, identify any potential data redundancy, and ensure the integrity of the relationships among the tables. This holistic view is vital for making informed decisions about data management, optimization, and improvement needs.

In contrast, while knowing the history of past normalizations can provide context, it is not as immediate or critical to the review process as understanding current table purposes. Real-time access to system changes may assist in monitoring the database but does not directly contribute to evaluating its structure and effectiveness. Confirming that all tables meet normalization standards is important for database integrity, yet without understanding the specific purpose of each table, it becomes challenging to determine if the normalization is serving its intended goal effectively.