SQL Fool Adventures in SQL Tuning – a blog for the rest of us

Performance Considerations of Data Types

I've just finished my first real content for the PASS Performance SIG. I decided to write on "Performance Considerations of Data Types," as I think this is one of the easiest and most overlooked topics in performance tuning. Here's a summary:

Selecting inappropriate data types, especially on large tables with millions or billions of rows, can have significant performance implications. In this article, I’ll explain why and offer suggestions on how to select the most appropriate data type for your needs. The primary focus will be on common data types in SQL Server 2005 and 2008, but I’ll also discuss some aspects of clustered indexes and column properties. Most importantly, I’ll show some examples of common data-type misuse.

If you're interested in this content, you can find it here: Performance Considerations of Data Types.

Special thanks to Paul Randal and Paul Nielsen for providing me with technical reviews and great feedback. You guys are awesome!

Thanks also to Mladen Prajdic and Jeremiah Peschka for their great input. You guys are awesome, too!