What is "data normalization," and why is it important in Power BI?

Data normalization refers to the systematic process of organizing data in a database to minimize redundancy and improve data integrity. This process typically involves structuring data into tables and establishing relationships between them, helping to ensure that each piece of data is stored only once.

In the context of Power BI, normalization is crucial because it enhances the performance of data models by reducing data duplication, which can lead to large file sizes and inefficient queries. By organizing data efficiently, users can create more robust analytical models, leading to better insights and more efficient report generation. Normalized data also helps maintain consistency, making it easier to manage and analyze over time.

This concept is distinctly different from the other choices. For instance, while adjusting data for consistency across reports may involve some level of organizational effort, it does not specifically define normalization. Similarly, techniques aimed at removing null values and setting standard formats, while important for data cleanliness and consistency, do not encapsulate the essence of normalization, which focuses primarily on redundancy reduction.