Big INT, Tiny INT... what with the INTs?

[jkh1978]

What is the difference between a tinyint, int, mediumint, ....

[sylow]

http://www.mysql.com/doc/C/o/Column_types.html

[Maelstrom]

Essentially how big the numbers can be to the negative and possitive. This also represents the amount of physical space alotted to the database. If you know the numbers will always be tiny then use tinyint as it uses up less physical space than int.

[DR_LaRRY_PEpPeR]

yep, look at the ranges on the manual page that sylow posted. ALWAYS use the smallest type that has enough range for what you need. i always see people using INT for everything! unbelievable. if you don't need negative numbers, make your columns UNSIGNED as well (that would include any AUTO_INCREMENT columns).

[Maelstrom]

Originally posted by DR_LaRRY_PEpPeR
yep, look at the ranges on the manual page that sylow posted. ALWAYS use the smallest type that has enough range for what you need. i always see people using INT for everything! unbelievable. if you don't need negative numbers, make your columns UNSIGNED as well (that would include any AUTO_INCREMENT columns).

THANK YOU. I read through the book I have and have never seen 'why' unsigned. Just that it is done sometimes.

/me kicks book across room

Of course I could have just checked the manual