Why is it important to normalize database design when encountering issues with table identifiers in PHP?

When encountering issues with table identifiers in PHP, it is important to normalize the database design to ensure consistency and efficiency. Normalizing the database design involves organizing the tables and their relationships to eliminate redundancy and improve data integrity. This can help resolve issues with table identifiers and prevent future problems with data management.

// Example of normalizing database design in PHP
// Create a new table to store unique identifiers for each record
CREATE TABLE identifiers (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    table_name VARCHAR(50),
    record_id INT
);

// Update existing tables to use the new identifier table
ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN identifier_id INT;
ALTER TABLE products ADD COLUMN identifier_id INT;