What is the purpose of schema validation in database design?

The purpose of schema validation in database design primarily revolves around ensuring that the data model aligns correctly with the database schema. This process involves checking the structure of the database—such as tables, fields, data types, relationships, and constraints—against the defined specifications of the data model. By doing so, schema validation helps to detect any discrepancies that might occur when the data model changes or evolves over time, or when updates are made to the database.

When the data model and the database schema are out of sync, it can lead to issues such as data integrity problems, application errors, or unexpected behavior during data operations. Therefore, timely schema validation is crucial for maintaining consistency and reliability in database interactions, ensuring that applications can trust the structure of the database they are communicating with.

The other options, while relevant to database management, do not directly relate to the primary function of schema validation. Database security, performance optimization, and user permission management are critical aspects of database administration but are not the specific goals of schema validation.