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What does that number mean when you define a VARCHAR(X) ?


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  #1  
Old June 5th, 2000, 02:45 PM
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alexgreg alexgreg is offline
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OK, I said most of it in the title. When in mySQL you define a VARCHAR you put a number in brackets after it. What is the meaning of that number? Is it the maximum number of characters that string can be?
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Old June 5th, 2000, 03:27 PM
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Yep.
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Old June 5th, 2000, 03:58 PM
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Thanks rod k, just out of interest, how do you become a member rather than a junior member on this bb?

So in theory, I could just do VARCHAR(255) and I can have it up to 255 characters? Are there any disadvantages to this?
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Old June 5th, 2000, 05:25 PM
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Just post a lot ;-)

Yes you understand correctly. Generally you should use CHAR() wherever possible. However, if any fields would benefit from varchar() and you make them such, then all char() fields will become varchar() fields. Varchar() fields are advantageous when the data element size range is large.
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