What Is VARCHAR in SQL | CHAR vs VARCHAR

What is VARCHAR in SQL

In SQL, VARCHAR stands for "Variable Character." It is a data type used to store character strings of varying lengths. VARCHAR columns can store both letters and numbers, and the length of the data they can hold is flexible, meaning it can vary from one entry to another. This is in contrast to CHAR.

What is the Difference Between CHAR and VARCHAR in SQL

Two commonly used data types for storing character strings are VARCHAR and CHAR.

VARCHAR (Variable Character) in SQL:

Let's begin with VARCHAR. The length of a VARCHAR column is typically specified when you create a table in a database, and it can range from 1 character to a maximum length that depends on the database system you're using. For example, in some database systems, you might define a VARCHAR column like this:

In this example, the "column_name" can store character strings with a maximum length of 255 characters. If you store a shorter string, it will occupy only as much storage space as needed for the actual data, making VARCHAR a space-efficient choice for dynamic content.

CHAR (Fixed Character):

On the other hand, CHAR, short for "Character," represents a fixed-length character data type. When you define a CHAR column, it allocates a set amount of storage space for each entry, regardless of the actual length of the data. This ensures that all values in a CHAR column have the same length, which can be beneficial in specific situations, such as when dealing with fixed-length codes or identifiers.

Consider the following example:

In this case, "code" can only store strings of precisely 10 characters in length. If you insert a shorter string, it will be padded with spaces to meet the specified length. This padding can be both an advantage and a drawback, depending on your use case.

Comparing Different Data Types: VARCHAR vs. CHAR

Let's break down the differences between VARCHAR and CHAR in a tabular format for easy reference:

When to Use VARCHAR vs. CHAR:

Choosing the appropriate data type is important for your storage efficiency, query performance, and overall database functionality. Determining when to use VARCHAR versus CHAR in SQL depends on your specific use case and the nature of the data.

• Use VARCHAR when dealing with textual content like names, descriptions, or comments, where the length can vary significantly.
• Use CHAR when you need fixed-length data, such as product codes, phone numbers, or other values that should consistently occupy a specified amount of storage space.

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Before you create backup tasks with AOMEI Cyber Backup, you should:

• Run the downloaded .exe file to install AOMEI Cyber Backup, and launch its main interface. Click Source Device Microsoft SQL Add Microsoft SQL.

• Choose Download proxy program or Copy link to download the Agent program and install it on the device with SQL Server installed. Then, click Already installed proxy to select the device.
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That's it, now you can perform SQL Server auto backup every day via AOMEI Cyber Backup with the following steps:

1. Click Backup Task Create New Task to create a Microsoft SQL Backup task.

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4. Set up a backup Schedule to run the SQL database backup daily/weekly/monthly, and choose the backup method as Full/Incremental/Differential.

5. Click Start Backup to execute the task. Once it's finished, you will find it in the Backup Task tab.

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Conclusion

This article guides you in making informed decisions when choosing between VARCHAR and CHAR for their SQL databases. VARCHAR in SQL is a flexible data type suited for variable-length text data, saving storage space while CHAR, "Fixed Character," is ideal for fixed-length data like codes or identifiers. We've compared these two data types, discussing their efficiency, use cases, and examples.