What's the better database design: more tables or more columns? [closed]
A former coworker insisted that a database with more tables with fewer columns each is better then one with fewer tables with more columns each. For example rather than a customer table with name, address, city, state, zip, etc. columns, you would have a name table, an address table, a city table, etc. He argued this design was more efficient and flexible. Perhaps it is more flexible, but I am not qualified to comment on its efficiency. Even if it is more efficient, I think those gains may be outweighed by the added complexity. So, are there any significant benefits to more tables with fewer