Thread: Difference between text and char(n)?

Is there really that much difference between text and char(n)?  Is the
length of text dynamic to the data that you put in it, or is there some kind
of fixed width associated with it?

TIA,
Preston

"Hillensbeck, Preston" <PHillensbeck@sfbcic.com> writes:

> Is there really that much difference between text and char(n)?  Is the
> length of text dynamic to the data that you put in it, or is there some kind
> of fixed width associated with it?

'text' is unlimited (apart from the field size limit, which is pretty
large).  'char' is represented the same way internally as 'text', but
has extra bookkeeping for the padding and length checks so it's a
little slower IIRC.

-Doug
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