|
|
| Re: CHAR DATATYPE: FIXED? [message #297 is a reply to message #284] |
Mon, 04 February 2002 03:58   |
Suresh Vemulapalli
Messages: 624
Registered: August 2000
|
Senior Member |
|
|
major differences:
1) char column max length 2000
varchar2 max length 4000
(in oracle 8 and above)
2) if you define column as char datatype, oracle pads spaces and insert value
ex:
if you define ename as char(50)
insert into emp(ename) values('xyz');
oracle stores values xyz+47spaces
means length of that column always 50.
oracle inserts actual value when u define column as varchar2
above value will be stored as 'xyz'
varchar2 datatype saves lot of space.
|
|
|
|
| Re: CHAR DATATYPE: FIXED? [message #334 is a reply to message #284] |
Tue, 05 February 2002 22:43 |
Diwakar Bhandari
Messages: 1
Registered: February 2002
|
Junior Member |
|
|
|
Then a question arises why there is a need to go for char datatype when we already have varchar2 which beneficial in saving memory ... The reason as I belief is that char is to be used for those column where the database designer is sure of the length of the values to be entered ..say like sex which can only be 'M' or 'F' . Varchar2 though saves memory but it can be a performance overload as it comes into play at the runtime (determining the length of string to be stored ) and hence if we are talking of performnace , then it can be an overhead .Hence char is still relevant inspite of being pretty harsh on memory ..!!!!
|
|
|
|
] 
Blog
Search
Help
Members
Register
Login
Home
