Everything You Need to Know About SQL Server Bigint

Welcome, Dev, to this comprehensive guide about SQL Server Bigint. In this article, we will be discussing everything you need to know about SQL Server Bigint and how it can help you improve your database performance. So, let’s begin!

What is SQL Server Bigint?

SQL Server Bigint is a data type that is used to store large integer values in a SQL Server database. It can store values ranging from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. It takes 8 bytes of storage space and is supported in all versions of SQL Server.

SQL Server Bigint is extremely useful when you need to store large numerical values, such as a primary key or a foreign key, that cannot be stored in other data types, such as int or smallint.

Advantages of using SQL Server Bigint

There are several advantages of using SQL Server Bigint, such as:

• It can store very large numerical values, up to 18 digits in length.
• It allows you to perform arithmetic operations without loss of precision or rounding errors.
• It is supported in all versions of SQL Server.
• It is efficient in terms of storage space and memory usage.

Disadvantages of using SQL Server Bigint

There are also some disadvantages of using SQL Server Bigint, such as:

• It takes up more storage space than other data types, such as int or smallint.
• It may not be necessary for smaller numerical values that can be stored in other data types.

How to Use SQL Server Bigint

Using SQL Server Bigint is very simple. You can declare a column as Bigint in the CREATE TABLE statement or you can alter an existing column’s data type to Bigint using the ALTER TABLE statement.

Here’s an example of how to create a table with a Bigint column:

Column Name	Data Type
id	Bigint
name	Varchar(50)
age	Int

You can also use the CAST or CONVERT functions to convert other data types to Bigint, as shown below:

SELECT CAST('123456789' AS Bigint)

SELECT CONVERT(Bigint, '123456789')

Best Practices for Using SQL Server Bigint

Here are some best practices to follow when using SQL Server Bigint:

1. Only use SQL Server Bigint when you need to store very large numerical values that cannot be stored in other data types.
2. Avoid using SQL Server Bigint for smaller numerical values that can be stored in other data types, such as int or smallint.
3. Be mindful of the storage space and memory usage when using SQL Server Bigint.
4. Use appropriate indexes to optimize the performance of queries that involve SQL Server Bigint columns.

FAQ

What is the maximum value that can be stored in a SQL Server Bigint column?

The maximum value that can be stored in a SQL Server Bigint column is 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

What is the minimum value that can be stored in a SQL Server Bigint column?

The minimum value that can be stored in a SQL Server Bigint column is -9,223,372,036,854,775,808.

Can I use SQL Server Bigint as a primary key?

Yes, you can use SQL Server Bigint as a primary key if you need to store very large numerical values that cannot be stored in other data types.

Can I use SQL Server Bigint as a foreign key?

Yes, you can use SQL Server Bigint as a foreign key if the referenced column is also a Bigint data type.

What is the difference between SQL Server Bigint and Int?

The main difference between SQL Server Bigint and Int is the range of values they can store. Int can store values from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647, while Bigint can store values from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

What is the difference between SQL Server Bigint and Smallint?

The main difference between SQL Server Bigint and Smallint is the range of values they can store. Smallint can store values from -32,768 to 32,767, while Bigint can store values from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.