Why does SQLite show "INTEGER" for many types?

SQLite uses dynamic typing with only 5 storage classes: NULL, INTEGER, REAL, TEXT, and BLOB. Most type names are accepted as aliases but stored using the closest storage class.

What does N/A mean in a cell?

N/A means the database has no direct native equivalent for that type. You may need to use a workaround or a different type with similar semantics.

Is BOOLEAN a real type in MySQL?

MySQL BOOLEAN is an alias for TINYINT(1). A value of 0 is false and any non-zero value is true. PostgreSQL has a native BOOLEAN type.

Which database has the best JSON support?

PostgreSQL offers JSON and binary, indexable JSONB types. MySQL 5.7+ provides a native binary JSON type. SQL Server supports JSON documents in text columns such as NVARCHAR and provides built-in JSON functions.

What is the maximum size for VARCHAR across databases?

MySQL and SQL Server support up to 65,535 bytes and 8,000 bytes respectively for VARCHAR. PostgreSQL VARCHAR (or TEXT) can hold up to 1 GB. SQLite TEXT is limited by the database page size, effectively up to ~1 GB.

How do I pick between FLOAT, DOUBLE, and NUMERIC?

Use NUMERIC/DECIMAL for financial and exact calculations (no rounding error). Use FLOAT or DOUBLE only for scientific data where approximate values are acceptable and speed matters more than precision.

SQL Data Type Reference

Compare SQL data types side-by-side across MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and SQL Server — searchable and filterable by category.

Category	MySQL	PostgreSQL	SQLite	SQL Server	Storage	Notes

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Summary

This tool provides a side-by-side comparison of data types across the four most popular SQL databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and SQL Server. You can search by type name, filter by category (numeric, string, date/time, binary, boolean, JSON, and others), and see storage sizes and notes for each type. It is an essential reference for developers migrating schemas between databases or writing cross-platform SQL.

How it works

Use the search box to filter rows by type name or description.
Click a category badge to show only that group of types.
Each row shows the equivalent type (or N/A) in all four databases.
Storage size and notes columns give extra context for each type.
Click "Reset" or the active filter badge to clear the filter.

Use cases

Look up the PostgreSQL equivalent of a MySQL INT or VARCHAR.
Find which SQL Server type maps to PostgreSQL JSONB.
Check storage sizes when optimizing schema for performance.
Quickly compare boolean handling differences across databases.
Reference date/time types when migrating from MySQL to PostgreSQL.
Understand which types are natively supported vs. emulated in SQLite.
Learn the range and precision of numeric types before choosing one.
Train junior developers on SQL type fundamentals across platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-05-23 · Reviewed by Nham Vu

SQL Data Type Reference

Use the SQL Data Type Reference

Summary

How it works

Use cases

Frequently Asked Questions