How to Handle Massive Integers Beyond MySQL\'s BIGINT Limit: Varchar vs. Other Options?

Handling Massive Integers Beyond MySQL's Limits

Question: Despite BIGINT seemingly being MySQL's largest integer type, what's the solution for storing even larger integers, say a BIGINT(80)? Additionally, why do certain sources, such as Twitter's API documentation, advise storing these massive integers as varchar? Which factors influence the choice between these data types?

Answer:

Counterintuitively, the 64-bit size limits of big integers (rather than a specific digit count of 20) determine their actual boundary. Any number exceeding this 64-bit limit will not fit within a big integer.

This limitation arises from the fact that native integers are optimized for lightning-fast manipulation by hardware, while textual representations of numbers typically necessitate a sequential digit-by-digit processing approach.

Should you encounter numbers exceeding the 64-bit limit, you can opt for varchar storage. However, this approach comes with a caveat: extensive mathematical operations on these stored numbers may not be feasible.

Alternatively, you could explore:

• Floating Point Numbers: Offering a wider range but compromised precision.
• Decimal Numbers: Supporting integral values up to 65 digits with the decimal(65,0) column type, providing a balance of range and precision.

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