Difference Between Char and Varchar
Table of Contents
The invention of the computer was followed by the need for new and different programming and computer languages. Different computer languages came along with several codes and various data types to fit the requirements of the users.
The most widely used and taught programming language is SQL. Programmers use this to store different strings of data with various lengths. Two such data types that are commonly used is ‘char’ and ‘varchar’.
Char vs Varchar
The main difference between Char and Varchar is that char stores only fixed-length single string data types whereas varchar stores variable characters of different strings and the length depends on the string.
Char is the SQL data type that helps in storing characters and is short for ‘characters’. It stores only non-Unicode data i.e., only one type of string per cell. It also has a fixed-length and this can vary from 1-255 characters.
Varchar is another SQL data type that helps in storing variable characters of varying length. It stands for ‘variable character’. It stores alphanumeric data and the size depends on the specific string that is stored.
Comparison Table Between Char and Varchar
| Parameters of Comparison | Char | Varchar |
| Meaning | It is a SQL code that helps in storing characters | It is a SQL code that helps in storing variable character |
| Abbreviation for | character | Variable character |
| Storage size | They store values of fixed length and is equal to the maximum of the column | They store alphanumeric data of variable data and depends on the specific string that is stored |
| Memory allocation | Static memory allocation | Dynamic memory allocation |
| Bytes used | 1 byte per character | 1 byte per character plus 1 or 2 extra bytes for storing varying length information. |
| Character limit | 255 characters | 65535 characters |
| Usage | Programmers can use this when the length of the characters are concise and known. | Programmers can use this when the data entries length is varying |
| Contents | Has only characters | Has various strings like characters and variables |
What is Char?
Char is the data type that stores non-Unicode data values of fixed values. It stands for ‘char’. They are used by programmers only when the length of the data storage is known.
Since they have only one type of string in storage, they have a maximum character limit of 255 characters and the storage size is the same as the storage size for the column. Also, they use 1 byte per character for storage.
They use static memory allocation i.e., the storage of the variable is permanent and that the memory is already allocated before the codes can be entered and executed.
They have better performance than varchar.
What is Varchar?
Varchar is the data type that stores variable characters. It stands for ‘variable character’. They are used by the programmers when the data-length is varying and needs more than one data-type.
Since they have different strings, their maximum character limit is 65,535 characters as it depends on the limit of different string’s characters. They use 1 byte per character, similar to char. But they also use 1 or 2 bytes extra for storing length information.
They use dynamic memory allocation. This is used when the length or amount of the data to be stored is unknown or variable. It also allows storing data without having an upper limit.
They are used for storing data like address that requires.
Main Differences Between Char and Varchar
Conclusion
With computer language comes many data types and codes that take care of the most minimal thing required by the users and programmers. One such language is the SQL and two similar data types from them are ‘char’ and ‘varchar’.
‘Char’ is the data types that stores fixed-length data values and their storage size is equal to that of the column. They are used mainly by programmers when they want to store data of known range or concise data characters. They have a character limit of 250 since they are non-Unicode data types.
‘Varchar’ is another data type that also stores characters, but unlike char, it can store alphanumeric or various string characters. They are used when the data values are not fixed and keeps varying. They have a character limit of 65535 characters as they store different strings.
Though they both store characters, they are used by programmers differently because they have different storage size and store different types of characters. Also, char stores only fixed-length data values whereas varchar stores variable-length data values.
References
ncG1vNJzZmiZo6Cur8XDop2fnaKau6SxjZympmeUnrOnsdGepZydXZeytcPEnqVmm5iWv26tzZ1kr5mimLWivo4%3D