SQL INT vs INTEGER

Introduction

When creating a table in a SQL database, one of the most common data types to use for numeric columns is "INT". However, some database systems may also allow the use of "INTEGER". In this article, we will explore the differences and similarities between these two data types in the context of SQL.

Data Type Sizes

In terms of data type sizes, both "INT" and "INTEGER" have the same range of values, which is from -2147483648 to 2147483647 for a signed integer, and 0 to 4294967295 for an unsigned integer. This means that they can both store integers of up to 4 bytes.

Syntax

In terms of syntax, "INT" and "INTEGER" are interchangeable in most SQL database systems. For example, the following two create table statements are equivalent:

CREATE TABLE person (
  id INT,
  name VARCHAR(255),
  age INTEGER
);

CREATE TABLE person (
  id INTEGER,
  name VARCHAR(255),
  age INT
);

Performance

When it comes to performance, there is no significant difference between using "INT" or "INTEGER" in SQL. Both data types use the same amount of storage and have similar performance characteristics.

Compatibility

One major consideration when choosing between "INT" and "INTEGER" is compatibility with other database systems. While both data types are standard SQL types, some database systems may only support one or the other.

For example, MySQL and PostgreSQL support both "INT" and "INTEGER", while SQLite only supports "INTEGER". If you need your SQL code to be compatible with a specific database system, it is important to check which data types it supports.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both "INT" and "INTEGER" are valid data types to use for numeric columns in SQL databases. They have the same range of values, similar performance characteristics, and are interchangeable in terms of syntax. However, compatibility with database systems may vary, so it is important to check which data types are supported.