When to Use tinyint, smallint, mediumint, bigint, and int in MySQL?

Unveiling the Distinction Between MySQL Data Types: tinyint, smallint, mediumint, bigint, and int

In the realm of MySQL, understanding the nuances between various data types is crucial for optimal database design. Five commonly used integer data types—tinyint, smallint, mediumint, bigint, and int—stand out due to their varying storage capacities and value ranges.

Unpacking the Differences

These data types differ primarily in two aspects: storage size and permissible value ranges. As per the documentation provided by MySQL and other RDBMSes, the following table summarizes their characteristics:

Data Type	Size (Bytes)	Value Range (Signed)	Value Range (Unsigned)
tinyint	1	-128 to 127	0 to 255
smallint	2	-32768 to 32767	0 to 65535
mediumint	3	-8388608 to 8388607	0 to 16777215
int/integer	4	-2147483648 to 2147483647	0 to 4294967295
bigint	8	-9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807	0 to 18446744073709551615

Optimal Usage Scenarios

The choice of data type should align with the specific requirements of the application:

• tinyint: Suitable for storing small integers within the range of -128 to 127 or 0 to 255 (unsigned), such as boolean values (true/false) or enumeration values.
• smallint: Ideal for storing small to medium-sized integers within the range of -32768 to 32767 or 0 to 65535 (unsigned), such as employee IDs or product codes.
• mediumint: Useful for storing medium-sized integers within the range of -8388608 to 8388607 or 0 to 16777215 (unsigned), typically used for larger enumeration values or sequence numbers.
• int/integer: Generally used for storing integers without any specific size constraints, as it can accommodate a wide range of values from -2147483648 to 2147483647 or 0 to 4294967295 (unsigned).
• bigint: Designed for storing large integers within the range of -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807 or 0 to 18446744073709551615 (unsigned), often used for database IDs or high-precision financial calculations.

By carefully considering storage requirements and permissible value ranges, developers can select the appropriate data type for each column in their MySQL database, ensuring optimal performance and data integrity.

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