ENUM is suitable for fixed options, VARCHAR is suitable for variable content. 1. ENUM uses integer storage to save space and has high query efficiency, suitable for fixed values such as gender and status; 2. VARCHAR stores strings more flexible, suitable for fields with variable content such as usernames and addresses; 3. ENUM needs to lock the table to affect maintenance when modifying enumeration values, and VARCHAR does not need to change the table structure if it adds or changes the values; 4. ENUM is more efficient in comparison and indexing, but the application layer handles VARCHAR more friendly and does not require additional mapping.
ENUM and VARCHAR are two common options when selecting a field type in MySQL. They each have applicable scenarios, the key lies in the characteristics of the data and how it is used. Simply put: if the field value is a few fixed and limited options, ENUM is preferred; if the content may change or be more common, it is more appropriate to use VARCHAR .

1. Storage and performance differences
ENUM actually uses integers to represent each enum value at the bottom, so it saves more space than VARCHAR. For example, if you define ENUM('apple', 'banana', 'orange')
, the database will use 1, 2, and 3 to represent these three values respectively.
VARCHAR directly stores the string itself, and the length is determined by the actual content (plus a little extra overhead). If your value changes frequently or the number is not fixed, VARCHAR is obviously more flexible.

Tips:
- ENUM is suitable for fields such as "gender" and "status" where values are basically unchanged.
- VARCHAR is more suitable for data such as "username" and "address" with variable content and uncertain lengths.
2. Maintainability comparison
The disadvantages of ENUM are also obvious: Once the enum value is to be modified, the entire ENUM list must be redefined with the ALTER TABLE
statement. This operation may lock the table for a long time when the table is large, affecting online services.

VARCHAR does not have this problem at all. As long as the logic layer is handled properly, adding or changing values does not require a table structure.
FAQ:
- What should I do if the enum value is written incorrectly? Only ENUM columns can be rebuilt.
- How does the application layer determine whether an enum value is supported? It is prone to hard-code problems.
3. Query and index efficiency
Because the ENUM field is essentially an integer, it is slightly more efficient when comparing and sorting. Especially when indexing is added, integers are much faster than strings.
Although VARCHAR can also be indexed, if it is a longer string, the index size will be larger and the query efficiency may be reduced.
For example:
- Query
status = 'active'
(VARCHAR) vsstatus = 2
(ENUM), which executes faster.- If you often query or sort the condition based on this field, the advantages of ENUM will be more obvious.
4. Convenience in application layer processing
From a development perspective, VARCHAR is more "friendly". Because it is a string, no additional mapping is required whether it is splicing, judging or displaying in the code. ENUM often requires a layer of mapping conversion at the front and back ends, otherwise you will see numbers instead of original values.
This also means that if you use an ORM framework, VARCHAR is usually easier to handle, and ENUM may need to be specially configured to show the correct meaning.
Basically these differences. When choosing ENUM or VARCHAR, it mainly depends on whether your data is stable, whether it changes frequently, and whether it has performance requirements. Sometimes both can be used, and it can be determined according to team habits.
The above is the detailed content of mysql enum vs varchar. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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