Picking the right string column datatype - CHAR vs VARCHAR vs TEXT

System Design for SDE-2 and above: https://arpitbhayani.me/masterclass
System Design for Beginners: https://arpitbhayani.me/sys-design
Redis Internals: https://arpitbhayani.me/redis

Build Your Own Redis / DNS / BitTorrent / SQLite - with CodeCrafters.
Sign up and get 40% off - https://app.codecrafters.io/join?via=...

In the video, I explained the different string data types in databases such as CHAR, VARCHAR, and TEXT. CHAR stores fixed-length strings, VARCHAR stores variable-length strings without padding, while TEXT allows storing strings of any length. I highlighted the trade-offs, use cases, and debunked misconceptions about these data types. I emphasized the importance of understanding database documentation for specifics, performance differences (negligible in modern databases), and considerations when choosing between VARCHAR, TEXT, and CHAR based on requirements like foreign key checks, quick index lookups, and maximum length constraints.

Recommended videos and playlists

If you liked this video, you will find the following videos and playlists helpful

System Design:    • PostgreSQL connection management and ...  
Designing Microservices:    • Advantages of adopting a microservice...  
Database Engineering:    • How nested loop, hash, and merge join...  
Concurrency In-depth:    • How to write efficient and fair multi...  
Research paper dissections:    • The Google File System - Paper Explained  
Outage Dissections:    • Dissecting GitHub Outage and things t...  

Hash Table Internals:    • Internal Structure of a Hash Table  
Bittorrent Internals:    • Introduction to BitTorrent and the pr...  

Things you will find amusing

Knowledge Base: https://arpitbhayani.me/knowledge-base
Bookshelf: https://arpitbhayani.me/bookshelf
Papershelf: https://arpitbhayani.me/papershelf

Other socials

I keep writing and sharing my practical experience and learnings every day, so if you resonate then follow along. I keep it no fluff.

LinkedIn:   / arpitbhayani  
Twitter:   / arpit_bhayani  
Weekly Newsletter: https://arpit.substack.com

Thank you for watching and supporting! it means a ton.

I am on a mission to bring out the best engineering stories from around the world and make you all fall in
love with engineering. If you resonate with this then follow along, I always keep it no-fluff.