Chapter II.3. Data Types and How to Use Them
SQL Server provides you with many options when it comes to creating and storing information. In this chapter, you get a good picture of all these choices. To begin, we explore each of the major data types along with any related sub-types. As part of reviewing all these data types, you find out how to determine the right data type for the job.
Even if you're already familiar with most major data types, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn how many new classes of information can be stored and tracked in SQL Server. We spend the subsequent part of the chapter looking at some of these new data types and taking advantage of them to build more productive database applications. After that, you discover that you can even define your own data types if you're so inclined. Finally, we show you how to use the SQL Server Management Studio and the SQLCMD utility to set data types on new or existing columns.
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