-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, all --
How does one decide whether to define a table with varchar() or char() field definitions? I'm going to be storing things like first and last names and mailing addresses, and I originally started planning for varchar() so that the extra space wouldn't get allocated but then started wondering about variable-length records versus fixed-length records and speed issues. They must both have their used (or else there wouldn't be two definitions), and so there must be strong points for each; what are they? In this case, I'll have names, phones, email, res and mailing addresses fields (all of which are relatively short and could be fixed-length) as well as a larger TEXT field for general notes. Given the variable nature of the TEXT field, maybe varchar is fine even if it might not in other cases. Then, again, I don't know if a TEXT field gets the whole space assigned to it even if empty, just like I don't know how [var]chars are done... As a side note, I'd be interested in a high-level reading of how data is stored in MySQL databases and how compacting and optimization is done... It would have to be an "executive summary" overview so that it didn't my eyes bleed, though :-) TIA & HAND :-D - -- David T-G * There is too much animal courage in (play) [EMAIL PROTECTED] * society and not sufficient moral courage. (work) [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Mary Baker Eddy, "Science and Health" http://www.justpickone.org/davidtg/ Shpx gur Pbzzhavpngvbaf Qrprapl Npg! -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (FreeBSD) iD8DBQE9/Oi1Gb7uCXufRwARAnIiAKDoC2CIuBkeJFJlHPHt1awW7DNq/QCfUD1Y iDGQRi6daMsiS/Z9w7/72nM= =9vng -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Before posting, please check: http://www.mysql.com/manual.php (the manual) http://lists.mysql.com/ (the list archive) To request this thread, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Trouble unsubscribing? Try: http://lists.mysql.com/php/unsubscribe.php
