MySQL INT Range - SQL

As a programmer, understanding the integer range of MySQL INT is important for designing tables and selecting appropriate data types for your columns. In this article, we will explore the range of MySQL INT and how it affects your database design.

INT Data Type in MySQL

In MySQL, INT is a numeric data type that stores integer values. The range of the INT data type is determined by the number of bytes allocated for storage. The INT data type can be signed or unsigned and can range from 1 byte to 8 bytes in length.

Signed and Unsigned INT

INT can be either signed or unsigned. A signed INT can store positive and negative values, while an unsigned INT can store only positive values. The range of values for signed and unsigned INT differs due to the way the values are represented in binary.

Size of INT

The size of the INT data type in MySQL determines the range of values it can store. The following table shows the size of INT and the corresponding range of values.

| Size | Minimum Value (Signed) | Maximum Value (Signed) | Maximum Value (Unsigned) | |------|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------| | 1 byte | -128 | 127 | 255 | | 2 bytes | -32768 | 32767 | 65535 | | 3 bytes | -8388608 | 8388607 | 16777215 | | 4 bytes | -2147483648 | 2147483647 | 4294967295 | | 8 bytes | -9223372036854775808 | 9223372036854775807 | 18446744073709551615 |

Choosing the Right Size

When designing your database schema, it is important to choose the appropriate size for your INT column based on the range of values it needs to store. Choosing a larger size than necessary can waste space while choosing a smaller size can cause data overflow and loss of precision.

Examples

Here are some examples of how to define an INT column in MySQL.

-- Define a signed INT column that can store values between -128 and 127
CREATE TABLE example_table_1 (
    id INT(1) SIGNED NOT NULL,
    ...
);

-- Define an unsigned INT column that can store values between 0 and 255
CREATE TABLE example_table_2 (
    id INT(1) UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
    ...
);

-- Define a signed INT column that can store values between -2147483648 and 2147483647
CREATE TABLE example_table_3 (
    id INT(4) SIGNED NOT NULL,
    ...
);

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the range of MySQL INT is important for designing tables and selecting appropriate data types for your columns. By selecting the appropriate size and signedness of your INT columns, you can ensure that your data is stored accurately and efficiently.