Hey Dev, are you a SQL Server enthusiast who is always on the lookout for in-depth knowledge on the various data types available in SQL Server? If yes, then you have landed on the right page! In this article, we will take a closer look at Numeric Data Types in SQL Server.
Introduction
Before we dive into the details of Numeric Data Types in SQL Server, let’s first understand what these data types are all about. Numeric Data Types are used to store numeric values such as integers, decimals, and floating-point values in a database. They have a wide range of application in fields such as finance, engineering, and statistics, to name a few.
SQL Server supports various Numeric Data Types that differ in their precision and scale. The choice of the data type should depend on the requirements of the application and the nature of the data being stored.
Understanding Integer Data Types
SmallInt
The SmallInt data type is used to store integer values between -32,768 to 32,767. It consumes 2 bytes of storage space and is ideal for storing small integers that don’t require much storage space.
The following table lists the various properties of the SmallInt data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
2 bytes |
Minimum value |
-32,768 |
Maximum value |
32,767 |
Here are some frequently asked questions about SmallInt data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum number of SmallInt values that can be stored in a table?
A: The number of SmallInt values that can be stored in a table depends on the size of the table and the number of columns. However, in general, you can store millions of SmallInt values in a table without any issues.
Q2. Can SmallInt data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, SmallInt data type can be used for calculations. However, it is important to note that it has limitations when it comes to precision and scale. Therefore, it may not be suitable for complex calculations that require high precision and accuracy.
Q3. Is it possible to convert SmallInt data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert SmallInt data type to other data types such as BigInt, Int, and Numeric. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale if the target data type has a smaller range than SmallInt.
Int
The Int data type is used to store integer values between -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. It consumes 4 bytes of storage space and is ideal for storing larger integers that require more storage space.
The following table lists the various properties of the Int data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
4 bytes |
Minimum value |
-2,147,483,648 |
Maximum value |
2,147,483,647 |
Here are some frequently asked questions about Int data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum number of Int values that can be stored in a table?
A: The number of Int values that can be stored in a table depends on the size of the table and the number of columns. However, in general, you can store billions of Int values in a table without any issues.
Q2. Can Int data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, Int data type can be used for calculations. However, it is important to note that it has limitations when it comes to precision and scale. Therefore, it may not be suitable for complex calculations that require high precision and accuracy.
Q3. Is it possible to convert Int data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert Int data type to other data types such as BigInt and Numeric. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale if the target data type has a smaller range than Int.
BigInt
The BigInt data type is used to store integer values between -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. It consumes 8 bytes of storage space and is ideal for storing very large integers that require a lot of storage space.
The following table lists the various properties of the BigInt data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
8 bytes |
Minimum value |
-9,223,372,036,854,775,808 |
Maximum value |
9,223,372,036,854,775,807 |
Here are some frequently asked questions about BigInt data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum number of BigInt values that can be stored in a table?
A: The number of BigInt values that can be stored in a table depends on the size of the table and the number of columns. However, in general, you can store trillions of BigInt values in a table without any issues.
Q2. Can BigInt data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, BigInt data type can be used for calculations. However, it is important to note that it has limitations when it comes to precision and scale. Therefore, it may not be suitable for complex calculations that require high precision and accuracy.
Q3. Is it possible to convert BigInt data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert BigInt data type to other data types such as Int and Numeric. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale if the target data type has a smaller range than BigInt.
Understanding Decimal and Numeric Data Types
Decimal
The Decimal data type is used to store decimal values with a fixed precision and scale. It allows you to specify the number of digits to the left and right of the decimal point. It consumes 5 to 17 bytes of storage space depending on the precision and scale.
For example, a Decimal(5,2) data type can store values up to 999.99 with two decimal places, whereas a Decimal(10,5) data type can store values up to 99999.99999 with five decimal places.
The following table lists the various properties of the Decimal data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
5 to 17 bytes |
Precision |
1 to 38 |
Scale |
0 to Precision |
Here are some frequently asked questions about Decimal data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Decimal data type?
A: The maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Decimal data type depend on the precision and scale of the data type. For example, a Decimal(5,2) data type can store values up to 999.99 with two decimal places, whereas a Decimal(10,5) data type can store values up to 99999.99999 with five decimal places.
Q2. Can Decimal data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, Decimal data type can be used for calculations. It is ideal for calculations that require high precision and accuracy, such as financial calculations and scientific calculations.
Q3. Is it possible to convert Decimal data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert Decimal data type to other data types such as Float and Real. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale.
Numeric
The Numeric data type is similar to the Decimal data type in that it allows you to store decimal values with a fixed precision and scale. It consumes 5 to 17 bytes of storage space depending on the precision and scale.
The only difference between Numeric and Decimal data types is that Numeric is an SQL-92 compliant data type whereas Decimal is a SQL Server-specific data type.
The following table lists the various properties of the Numeric data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
5 to 17 bytes |
Precision |
1 to 38 |
Scale |
0 to Precision |
Here are some frequently asked questions about Numeric data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Numeric data type?
A: The maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Numeric data type depend on the precision and scale of the data type. For example, a Numeric(5,2) data type can store values up to 999.99 with two decimal places, whereas a Numeric(10,5) data type can store values up to 99999.99999 with five decimal places.
Q2. Can Numeric data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, Numeric data type can be used for calculations. It is ideal for calculations that require high precision and accuracy, such as financial calculations and scientific calculations.
Q3. Is it possible to convert Numeric data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert Numeric data type to other data types such as Float and Real. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale.
Understanding Float and Real Data Types
Float
The Float data type is used to store floating-point values with a variable precision. It consumes 4 or 8 bytes of storage space depending on the precision. It is ideal for storing larger numbers that require a high degree of precision and accuracy, such as scientific calculations.
The following table lists the various properties of the Float data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
4 or 8 bytes |
Precision |
15 or 53 |
Here are some frequently asked questions about Float data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Float data type?
A: The maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Float data type depend on the precision of the data type. For example, a Float data type with a precision of 15 can store values up to 3.4 x 10^38 with seven decimal places, whereas a Float data type with a precision of 53 can store values up to 1.79 x 10^308 with 15 decimal places.
Q2. Can Float data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, Float data type can be used for calculations. It is ideal for calculations that require a high degree of precision and accuracy, such as scientific calculations.
Q3. Is it possible to convert Float data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert Float data type to other data types such as Decimal and Numeric. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale.
Real
The Real data type is used to store floating-point values with a variable precision. It consumes 4 bytes of storage space and is ideal for storing larger numbers that require a moderate degree of precision and accuracy.
The following table lists the various properties of the Real data type:
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
Storage size |
4 bytes |
Precision |
7 |
Here are some frequently asked questions about Real data type:
FAQs
Q1. What is the maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Real data type?
A: The maximum and minimum value that can be stored in a Real data type depend on the precision of the data type. A Real data type can store values up to 3.4 x 10^38 with seven decimal places.
Q2. Can Real data type be used for calculations?
A: Yes, Real data type can be used for calculations. It is ideal for calculations that require a moderate degree of precision and accuracy.
Q3. Is it possible to convert Real data type to other data types?
A: Yes, it is possible to convert Real data type to other data types such as Decimal and Numeric. However, it is important to note that the conversion may result in loss of precision and scale.
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of this comprehensive guide on Numeric Data Types in SQL Server. We hope that this article has provided you with valuable insights into the various Numeric Data Types available in SQL Server and their respective properties.
Remember, the choice of the data type should depend on the requirements of the application and the nature of the data being stored. So, choose wisely!