theashishtrivedi (4/2/2013)
If I define VARCHAR(8000) and store 10-20 characters in it, there should be some performance issue in long run (i.e. SQL Server will reserve the space for 8000 characters which is not utilized).
There's no space reservation. If you define a VARCHAR(8000) and store 20 charactersin it, it's the same in terms of storage as a VARCHAR(20) with 20 characters in it.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability