What does the third normal form of database normalization require?

The third normal form (3NF) of database normalization specifically requires the elimination of fields that do not depend on the primary key. This is crucial because 3NF aims to reduce redundancy and ensure that the data remains organized in a manner that promotes integrity and minimizes the chances of anomalies during data operations such as inserts, updates, and deletions.

In 3NF, each non-key field should be directly dependent on the primary key, which means that a field should not rely on another non-key field. This helps in maintaining a structure where every piece of data can be traced back to a single defining element, thereby preventing duplicated data or inconsistencies.

Understanding this principle is critical for designing efficient databases that are not only compliant with normalization rules but also optimized for performance and accuracy. The other options, while related to database normalization in some way, do not capture the specific requirement of the third normal form as accurately as the correct answer does.