What is the role of IDs in database normalization?

IDs play a crucial role in the process of database normalization by serving as unique identifiers for records in a table. This uniqueness is essential because it allows each entry in a database to be distinguished from others, ensuring data integrity and preventing duplication. When a table has a unique ID for each record, it can effectively link to other tables through foreign keys. These relationships are foundational to normalized databases as they enable complex queries and ensure that data is structured in a way that reduces redundancy.

In normalized databases, which are designed to minimize duplication and dependency, having unique IDs facilitates efficient data management and retrieval. This allows for more organized data structures while also supporting referential integrity through the relationships between tables. By creating these links, you can easily perform join operations that combine data across different tables in meaningful ways.

This contrasts with the other options, which either misrepresent the role of IDs or overlook their importance in database design.