What are common SQL data types like VARCHAR, INT, and DATE?
Jul 31, 2025 am 10:33 AMVARCHAR, INT, and DATE are the most commonly used data types in SQL, which are used to store variable-length text, integers, and dates, respectively. VARCHAR is suitable for storing text with unfixed lengths such as names or addresses. When using them, a reasonable length should be set according to actual needs to save space; INT is used to store integers, suitable for counting or identifiers, and appropriate types such as SMALLINT or BIGINT should be selected according to the numerical range; DATE is used to store date values, the format is YYYY-MM-DD, and if time information is required, DATETIME or TIMESTAMP should be used. Correctly selecting the data type can improve database performance and accuracy.
When working with SQL, understanding data types is key to designing efficient and accurate databases. The most commonly used data types—like VARCHAR
, INT
, and DATE
—each serve specific purposes and knowing how to use them correctly can prevent a lot of headaches down the line.

VARCHAR: Storing Variable-Length Text
VARCHAR
stands for "variable character." It's used to store text strings of varying lengths, making it ideal for things like names, addresses, or descriptions.
- Length flexibility : You specify the maximum number of characters it can hold, like
VARCHAR(255)
. - Storage efficiency : Unlike
CHAR
, which pads spaces to fill the defined length,VARCHAR
only uses as much space as needed. - Use case tip : If you're storing something like an email address, setting a reasonable limit (eg,
VARCHAR(100)
) helps avoid unnecessary memory use without restricting valid input.
A common mistake is using overly large sizes like VARCHAR(1000)
for every text field. That might not hurt on small tables, but in large datasets, it can impact performance and storage.

INT: Handling Whole Numbers
The INT
type stores integers—positive, negative, or zero—without decimal points. It's one of the most frequently used numeric types in SQL.
- Size matters : Depending on your database system,
INT
typically takes 4 bytes and can hold values from around -2 billion to 2 billion. - Variants exist : Some systems offer
TINYINT
,SMALLINT
,BIGINT
, etc., for more control over storage and range. - Best practice : Use the smallest integer type that fits your needs. For example, if you're tracking the number of items in stock for a small shop,
SMALLINT
may be enough and saves space.
CREATE TABLE products ( id INT PRIMARY KEY, quantity_in_stock SMALLINT );
Choosing the right size helps optimize disk usage and memory when dealing with large tables.

DATE: Working With Dates
The DATE
data type is used to store date values in the format YYYY-MM-DD
. It doesn't include time, so if you need both, you'll need DATETIME
or TIMESTAMP
instead.
- Date range : Most databases support a wide range, often from
'1000-01-01'
to'9999-12-31'
. - Time zone unaware : Be cautious when working across time zones;
DATE
doesn't adjust for that automatically. - Formatting note : Always insert dates in the standard format unless your SQL dialect handles conversions reliably.
If you're logging events and need precision beyond the day level, consider using DATETIME
or TIMESTAMP
.
There are plenty of other data types, but getting comfortable with these three— VARCHAR
, INT
, and DATE
—will cover a lot of ground. Just remember to match the type to the data you're storing, and don't overlook how those choices affect performance and integrity.
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