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Boolean Trap Fills Databases with Junk Flags

Source: medium.com

Databases often store useless boolean flags like "is_active" that quickly become meaningless over time.
A single flag can balloon into hundreds of pointless columns across tables, wasting space and confusing teams.
Cleaning them up reveals core data truths and simplifies systems for better decisions.

The article exposes how boolean flags in databases - simple yes/no fields - turn into traps that fill systems with junk data. Author Prem Chandak shares real-world examples from his experience building data platforms. The core argument is that these flags lose meaning as business needs change, leading to bloated, unreliable databases. It matters because messy data slows down teams, hides real insights, and costs companies time and money.