char vs. varchar2

From: Terrian, Tom <tterrian_at_daas.dla.mil>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 11:29:02 -0700
Message-ID: <F001.0037BC6F.20010829113546@fatcity.com>

I think that this subject comes up now and then, but I don't remember the conclusions........

We are creating a Data Warehouse and the subject of char vs varchar2 data types came up. I searched google and found a little bit on the subject (mainly there is no space savings between char(1) and varchar2(1)).

Has anybody studied this? For example: If I know that all my data is 10 characters wide, should I not create the field as char(10)? Any reason to make it a varchar2(10)? Would sql scripts (select and dml) be faster with one type or the other? Any space savings with one type or the other (still given 10 characters of fixed data)?

Thanks,
Tom

Tom Terrian
Oracle DBA
WPAFB - DAASC
tterrian_at_daas.dla.mil
937-656-3844

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Author: Terrian, Tom
  INET: tterrian_at_daas.dla.mil

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