What is the difference between VARCHAR and NVARCHAR data types in SQL Server?

The Difference Between VARCHAR and NVARCHAR Data Types in SQL Server

When it comes to storing character data in SQL Server, two common data types are VARCHAR and NVARCHAR. The main difference between these two types lies in how they handle character encoding:

Focus Keyword: VARCHAR vs. NVARCHAR in SQL Server

• VARCHAR: VARCHAR stores data using the 8-bit ANSI character set, which means it is suitable for storing non-Unicode character data. This data type is more space-efficient compared to NVARCHAR, as it only requires one byte per character.
• NVARCHAR: NVARCHAR, on the other hand, is used for storing Unicode character data, which requires a variable amount of storage depending on the character being stored. NVARCHAR uses the Unicode standard (UTF-16) to support a wide range of international characters and symbols.

When deciding between VARCHAR and NVARCHAR, consider the following factors:

• If your application predominantly deals with non-Unicode character data and you want to optimize storage space, VARCHAR is a suitable choice.
• For applications requiring support for internationalization and the storage of multilingual data, NVARCHAR should be used to ensure proper encoding and character representation.
• Keep in mind that NVARCHAR typically uses two bytes per character, which can impact storage requirements compared to VARCHAR.

Ultimately, the choice between VARCHAR and NVARCHAR in SQL Server should be based on the specific data needs and requirements of your application.