SQL Server Data Types

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Posted by: Aubrey W Love on August 24, 2021
Overview

SQL data types are fundamental components in database systems that define the nature of the data that can be stored in tables. They play a crucial role in ensuring data integrity, optimizing storage, and facilitating efficient querying and processing. Each data type specifies the format of the data, such as characters, numbers, dates, or binary values.

The benefits of using SQL data types lie in their ability to enforce consistency, enabling databases to validate incoming data and maintain uniformity throughout the tables. This consistency aids in the accuracy and reliability of the information stored. Additionally, data types contribute to storage optimization by allocating appropriate space for different kinds of data, preventing unnecessary resource consumption. Moreover, they support the execution of specialized operations on specific data formats, enhancing query performance and enabling more complex analytical tasks.

Overall, SQL data types provide a structured and standardized framework for organizing and managing diverse types of data within a database system.

Common Data Types

In the image below, we list some of the more common data types for SQL Server.

You can also download/print a PDF version that is a bit more detailed - here. And, you can learn a great deal more about SQL data types by reading this article SQL Server Data Types Quick Reference Guide posted on MSSQLTips.com.

Summary

Although data types play an important role in your career as a DBA, and it is an absolute "must learn", I feel that re-inventing the wheel here would be a waste of your time.
Downloading the PDF in the link above and printing it out to put on your desk somewhere along with reading the article mentioned above, will give you the most bang for your buck.
But by no means should you skip this step. On the contrary, you can't effectively create database tables without first understanding the rules. You need to know what type of data you will allow in each column and learning your data types is the first step in accomplishing this with effeciency.



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