Datatypes In Your Mind

  • Comments posted to this topic are about the item Datatypes In Your Mind

  • The list shown here includes bit in the list of "exact numeric types".

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187752.aspx (Data Types (Transact-SQL))

    The definition of bit, shown here, calls it "An integer data type that can take a value of 1, 0, or NULL."

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms177603.aspx (bit (Transact-SQL))

    Since:

    - a bit can only store 0 and 1, so it is an "exact number integer data type", as specified in the question

    - bit doesn't support negative numbers

    - 0-1 is a smaller range than 0-255

    The correct answer should be bit.

  • Good question, thanks!

    Did think a bit for a second:-D

  • Even though I strongly [font="Arial Black"]disagree [/font]that BIT is an integer datatype simply because it can't be used in certain bits of math, such as a SUM(), I have to agree with Stephen based soley on what the Microsoft documentation says... and it does say...

    "[font="Arial Black"]An integer data type [/font]that can take a value of 1, 0, or NULL."

    Anyone that answered "BIT" should get the point... if points matter to anyone.;-)

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
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    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


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  • Misread the question and thought the data type was supposed to store negatives as well...

    Need more caffeine.

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • stephen.long 56048 (5/5/2014)


    The list shown here includes bit in the list of "exact numeric types".

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187752.aspx (Data Types (Transact-SQL))

    The definition of bit, shown here, calls it "An integer data type that can take a value of 1, 0, or NULL."

    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms177603.aspx (bit (Transact-SQL))

    Since:

    - a bit can only store 0 and 1, so it is an "exact number integer data type", as specified in the question

    - bit doesn't support negative numbers

    - 0-1 is a smaller range than 0-255

    The correct answer should be bit.

    The correct answer IS bit!

    +1

    Andy, are you hungry?

  • Good One, Thanks!

    ---------------------------------------------------
    "Thare are only 10 types of people in the world:
    Those who understand binary, and those who don't."

  • Jeff Moden (5/5/2014)


    Even though I strongly [font="Arial Black"]disagree [/font]that BIT is an integer datatype simply because it can't be used in certain bits of math, such as a SUM(), I have to agree with Stephen based soley on what the Microsoft documentation says... and it does say...

    "[font="Arial Black"]An integer data type [/font]that can take a value of 1, 0, or NULL."

    Anyone that answered "BIT" should get the point... if points matter to anyone.;-)

    Jeff, I think point matters and that is why we have point system for QoTD 🙂

    Anyway Andy has not mentioned in his explanation that why bit is not correct answer as per the question 😉

    --rhythmk
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    🙂

  • Good one Andy, understanding those variable/s from different angle.

    hmm, according to the driver, it is tinyint, but the passenger (me) who answered, bit, does not agrees with the driver... and it leads to heated argument... driver loses is mind and lost control.. and we all know the rest what is going to happen... :w00t: and... now I am scared of SQL.

    -//edit; fixed the typo and added "(me)"

    ww; Raghu
    --
    The first and the hardest SQL statement I have wrote- "select * from customers" - and I was happy and felt smart.

  • Thanks for the question,

    I guess the author goes more this way

    --the smallest exact number integer data type that can't support a negative number

    declare @bit bit

    set @bit = -1

    Command(s) completed successfully.

    declare @tinyint tinyint

    set @tinyint = -1

    Msg 220, Level 16, State 2, Line 5

    Arithmetic overflow error for data type tinyint, value = -1.

    so certainly bit datatype can get a negative value which will be transformed to 0 or 1.

  • Koen Verbeeck (5/5/2014)


    Misread the question and thought the data type was supposed to store negatives as well...

    Need more caffeine.

    +1 - and first day back after a long weekend

    -------------------------------Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden [/url]Smart way to ask a question
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  • I have also answered 'BIT' 😉

  • Jeff Moden (5/5/2014)


    Even though I strongly [font="Arial Black"]disagree [/font]that BIT is an integer datatype simply because it can't be used in certain bits of math, such as a SUM(), I have to agree with Stephen based soley on what the Microsoft documentation says... and it does say...

    "[font="Arial Black"]An integer data type [/font]that can take a value of 1, 0, or NULL."

    Anyone that answered "BIT" should get the point... if points matter to anyone.;-)

    Initially I thought "bit" can be used for true/false and tinyint is the right answer for QOTD but reading microsoft documentation i got confused and answered as BIT :hehe:

  • Cannot consider bit to be an integer datatype, more like a flag, kind of "fingers or no fingers" instead of "how many fingers".

    😎

    DECLARE @FIRST_BIT BIT = 1;

    DECLARE @NEXT_BIT BIT = -1;

    SELECT

    CASE

    WHEN @FIRST_BIT = @NEXT_BIT THEN 'OOPS, NOT AN INTEGER TYPE!'

    ELSE 'A PROPER INTEGER TYPE!'

    END AS RESULTS

  • You can assign any value to a bit that is not equal to 0 and it will convert it to 1, a 0 obviously remains a 0.

    Compare the following:

    DataType: bit Value Range:1,0 or null Physical Storage: 1 bit

    DataType: tinyint Value Range: 0-255 Physical Storage: 1 byte

    So IMHO it is safe to say that bit is the smallest exact number integer data type, both in the range of values it holds as well as physical storage.

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