What is data redundancy in database management?

Data redundancy in database management refers specifically to the unnecessary duplication of data within a database. When data is stored in multiple locations rather than in a single, centralized location, it can lead to increased storage costs and complicate data management. This duplication can arise through poor database design or lack of normalization, where similar data is replicated across different tables or records.

Such redundancy makes it difficult to maintain data integrity, as updates or changes need to be made in multiple places, increasing the chance for inconsistencies. Identifying and reducing data redundancy is a key goal in database design and management, promoting efficiency and accuracy in how data is stored and accessed.

The other options, such as archiving old data, enhancing data retrieval speed, and techniques of data encryption, do not accurately reflect the concept of data redundancy as they focus on different aspects of data management rather than on the issue of duplicate data storage.