Which MySQL Integer Data Type Should You Use?

Varied Numeric Data Types in MySQL: tinyint, smallint, mediumint, bigint, and int

Within the realm of MySQL, a spectrum of numeric data types exists, each possessing unique characteristics. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for efficient database design.

Data Sizes and Ranges

The most fundamental difference lies in the storage space occupied by these types and the corresponding value ranges they accommodate:

• tinyint: 1 byte, -128 to 127 (unsigned: 0 to 255)
• smallint: 2 bytes, -32768 to 32767 (unsigned: 0 to 65535)
• mediumint: 3 bytes, -8388608 to 8388607 (unsigned: 0 to 16777215)
• int/integer: 4 bytes, -2147483648 to 2147483647 (unsigned: 0 to 4294967295)
• bigint: 8 bytes, -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807 (unsigned: 0 to 18446744073709551615)

Usage Considerations

The choice of data type depends on the range of values expected and the precision required:

• For small numerical values within a limited range, tinyint or smallint are suitable.
• When dealing with larger values, mediumint or int offer increased capacity.
• Bigint is the most capacious integer type, accommodating exceptionally large numerical values.

Other Considerations

• Unsignedness: Except for MySQL's tinyint, all integer types support unsigned semantics, extending the range to non-negative values.
• Storage Differences: Across different RDBMSes (e.g., Postgres, DB2), there may be some variation in storage requirements and value ranges for these types.

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