Explain the concept of denormalization 

Denormalization is the process of intentionally introducing redundancy into a database schema by combining tables or including additional data to improve performance, typically in terms of query speed and efficiency. Key aspects include:

1. **Performance Optimization:** Reduces the need for complex joins and aggregations by storing frequently accessed data together, which can speed up read operations.

2. **Data Redundancy:** Involves duplicating data across tables to avoid expensive joins and to simplify queries, often at the cost of increased storage and potential data inconsistencies.

3. **Trade-offs:** While denormalization can enhance performance for specific queries and reporting tasks, it can also complicate data updates and maintenance, as changes must be propagated to multiple locations.

4. **Use Cases:** Commonly applied in data warehousing, reporting, and high-performance systems where read performance is critical and where data is relatively static.

Denormalization is a strategic choice that balances the need for optimized read performance with the complexity of maintaining data consistency and integrity.