Data Representation

[Guest_imported]

Could you please tell me what types of data representation are available in a typical database package.
regards:
phil

 

[RickSpr]

First, it's more accurate to talk about database data types than about representations. Representation suggests a data format as it is presented to a user. That's up to the application program that uses the database system; the database system, by and large, has only internal data formats, and even those are somewhat hidden from the application program because the database system will convert its internal forms to those requested by the program.

The internal data types of a typical database system will include integers, floating point numbers, date/time values, and, of course, text. There are often several sizes of integers (8-, 16-, and 32-bit) and floating point numbers. Some databases have a decimal type (binary-coded decimal, with 2 digits stored per byte). Some have an internal timestamp type that can be used for tracking record changes. Most have a "long text" and/or "variable length text" type. A few have a "wide text" type that can store characters of foreign alphabets or different character sets, such as Chinese. Those are the most common data types. Rick Sprague