Understanding data normalization

Imagine that you have a messy toolbox where all your tools are scattered randomly – screwdrivers mixed with wrenches, nails with bolts, and so on. Whenever you need to fix something, you waste a lot of time finding the right tool. Now, think of data normalization as organizing that toolbox: you separate the screwdrivers, wrenches, nails, and bolts into separate compartments, making it quick and easy to find what you need.

In the context of data, normalization is like organizing that toolbox. It involves structuring and standardizing your data so that it’s consistent and easy to manage. This means standardizing the way device names, interface statuses, and other metrics are recorded, which helps in streamlined data management for an observability platform.

Building upon our discussion from previous chapters and practical examples, recall that in Chapter 4, within the Understanding data pipelines section, we explored the extract, transform...