Normalization is the process of organizing and structuring a relational database to reduce data redundancy and dependency. It involves dividing a database into tables and defining relationships between them, ensuring that each table serves a specific purpose without unnecessary duplication of data. The goal is to minimize data anomalies and improve data integrity. Normalization is typically carried out through a series of well-defined rules (normal forms), such as eliminating repeating groups and ensuring that data is stored in a way that avoids update, insertion, and deletion anomalies.