Understanding Bigint in SQL Server

Hello Dev! If you are a database developer or administrator, you must be familiar with the different data types available in SQL Server. One of the most commonly used data types is ‘bigint.’ In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about ‘bigint’ and its usage in SQL Server.

What is Bigint in SQL Server?

Bigint is a data type in SQL Server that stores whole numbers between -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 and 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. It requires 8 bytes of storage space and is mainly used for storing values that are too large for the ‘int’ data type.

Here’s an example of how to define a ‘bigint’ column in a table:

Column Name	Data Type
Employee ID	bigint

Advantages of using Bigint in SQL Server

There are several advantages of using ‘bigint’ in SQL Server:

1. Large Data Storage

One of the primary advantages of using ‘bigint’ is that it can store very large values. This makes it ideal for scenarios where you need to store numbers that are too large for other data types, such as ‘int’ or ‘smallint’.

2. Easy Conversion

Since ‘bigint’ is a whole number data type, it can easily be converted to other numerical data types without losing precision. This is useful when you need to perform calculations or comparisons between columns with different data types.

3. Better Performance

When compared to other comparable data types such as ‘decimal’ and ‘numeric,’ ‘bigint’ generally performs better in terms of query performance. This is because it requires less processing power and memory to store and manipulate data.

4. Improved Data Integrity

Using ‘bigint’ can help improve data integrity by reducing the risk of overflow errors. Since ‘bigint’ can store large numbers, it is less likely that you will run into issues where a number is too large to be represented by a given data type.

5. Improved Application Performance

Using ‘bigint’ can also help improve application performance by reducing the amount of data that needs to be loaded into memory. This is because ‘bigint’ requires less storage space than other data types, which means that your applications can load and manipulate data more quickly.

Disadvantages of using Bigint in SQL Server

While there are many advantages to using ‘bigint’ in SQL Server, there are also a few disadvantages that you should be aware of:

1. Storage Space

One of the biggest disadvantages of using ‘bigint’ is that it requires a lot of storage space. This can be an issue if you are working with large tables or if you have limited storage capacity.

2. Precision

While ‘bigint’ is precise when compared to other whole number data types, it is less precise than ‘decimal’ when it comes to storing decimal numbers. This can be a problem if you need to store numbers with high precision.

3. Compatibility

‘Bigint’ is not always compatible with all programming languages or frameworks. This can be an issue if you need to work with data across multiple platforms or if you are working with a programming language that does not support ‘bigint’ natively.

When to use Bigint in SQL Server

‘Bigint’ should be used when you need to store large whole numbers that are too large for other data types. It is also useful when you need to perform calculations or comparisons between columns with different data types. Additionally, ‘bigint’ can be used to improve application performance when working with large datasets.

How to use Bigint in SQL Server

Here are a few examples of how to use ‘bigint’ in SQL Server:

Creating a Table with a Bigint Column

To create a table with a ‘bigint’ column, you can use the following syntax:

CREATE TABLE Employee (EmployeeID bigint PRIMARY KEY,FirstName varchar(50),LastName varchar(50),DateOfBirth datetime)

Inserting Data into a Bigint Column

To insert data into a ‘bigint’ column, you can use the following syntax:

INSERT INTO Employee(EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, DateOfBirth)VALUES(1234567890123456, 'John', 'Doe', '1/1/1980')

Updating Data in a Bigint Column

To update data in a ‘bigint’ column, you can use the following syntax:

UPDATE EmployeeSET EmployeeID = 9876543210987654WHERE FirstName = 'John' AND LastName = 'Doe'

Retrieving Data from a Bigint Column

To retrieve data from a ‘bigint’ column, you can use the following syntax:

SELECT EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, DateOfBirthFROM EmployeeWHERE EmployeeID = 1234567890123456

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Bigint in SQL Server

1. What is the maximum value that can be stored in a ‘bigint’ data type?

The maximum value that can be stored in a ‘bigint’ data type is 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

2. What is the minimum value that can be stored in a ‘bigint’ data type?

The minimum value that can be stored in a ‘bigint’ data type is -9,223,372,036,854,775,808.

3. How many bytes of storage space does a ‘bigint’ data type require?

A ‘bigint’ data type requires 8 bytes of storage space.

4. Can a ‘bigint’ data type store decimal numbers?

‘Bigint’ cannot store decimal numbers. It is a whole number data type that is used for storing large integers.

5. What other data types are similar to ‘bigint’?

Other data types that are similar to ‘bigint’ include ‘int’ and ‘smallint.’ However, these data types have smaller ranges and cannot store values as large as ‘bigint’.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you understand the ‘bigint’ data type in SQL Server. Whether you are a database developer, administrator, or analyst, understanding the different data types available in SQL Server is crucial for building efficient and robust databases. Remember that ‘bigint’ should be used when you need to store large whole numbers that are too large for other data types, and when you need to perform calculations or comparisons between columns with different data types.