Explain what the process of denormalization of a database means and why it is used

Denormalization of a database is the process of intentionally adding redundant data to tables to reduce the number of joins when executing queries and to improve read performance. Typically, databases are normalized to eliminate redundancy and ensure integrity, but in some cases, this leads to complex and slow queries.

Denormalization is used when data retrieval speed is important, for example, in systems with a high volume of reads and relatively infrequent updates. It helps reduce server load and speed up application responses.

Example: instead of storing the customer's name only in the customers table and referencing it via a foreign key, you can add the customer's name directly to the orders table to avoid a join when displaying orders with customer names.