Comply with the following rules to improve query efficiency when you design columns:
If all of the following number types provide the required service precision, they are recommended in descending order of priority: integer, floating point, and numeric.
For details about string types, see Common String Types.
Every column requires a data type suitable for its data characteristics. The following table lists common string types in GaussDB(DWS).
Parameter |
Description |
Max. Storage Capacity |
|---|---|---|
CHAR(n) |
Fixed-length string, where n indicates the stored bytes. If the length of an input string is smaller than n, the string is automatically padded to n bytes using NULL characters. |
10 MB |
CHARACTER(n) |
Fixed-length string, where n indicates the stored bytes. If the length of an input string is smaller than n, the string is automatically padded to n bytes using NULL characters. |
10 MB |
NCHAR(n) |
Fixed-length string, where n indicates the stored bytes. If the length of an input string is smaller than n, the string is automatically padded to n bytes using NULL characters. |
10 MB |
BPCHAR(n) |
Fixed-length string, where n indicates the stored bytes. If the length of an input string is smaller than n, the string is automatically padded to n bytes using NULL characters. |
10 MB |
VARCHAR(n) |
Variable-length string, where n indicates the maximum number of bytes that can be stored. |
10 MB |
CHARACTER VARYING(n) |
Variable-length string, where n indicates the maximum number of bytes that can be stored. This data type and VARCHAR(n) are different representations of the same data type. |
10 MB |
VARCHAR2(n) |
Variable-length string, where n indicates the maximum number of bytes that can be stored. This data type is added to be compatible with the Oracle database, and its behavior is the same as that of VARCHAR(n). |
10 MB |
NVARCHAR2(n) |
Variable-length string, where n indicates the maximum number of bytes that can be stored. |
10 MB |
TEXT |
Variable-length string. Its maximum length is 8203 bytes less than 1 GB. |
8203 bytes less than 1 GB |