Database design.

[T@RicK]

My question is about database design.

Most of the times we need to create a table that contains a field that would hold only numbers as its contents, like employeeID, studentRollno, etc. what would be the ideal choice of the datatype ... should it be a integer or a text type.

Some say that we shouldnt use numeric types for fields that wont be needed in calculations like the one i mentioned above.

Any reasons for selecting such fields as numeric or non-numeric

Moreover what if these fields are meant to be used as primarykey or foriegn keys.

Thanx

[+Fahim S. MVC]

If you mean only for an id (primary key)... then it makes no difference. I suppose that integers would be better cos the machine is quicker with numbers.... but it also depends on which database implementation you are using.

Peeeeeeeeeeeez

[Gooey]

I'd go for text. There's nothing to say that those fields, like telephone numbers, have to be only numbers..

[Glowstick]

Use numbers as much as possible. The db engine is way slower on text fields when matching/searching, also text fields dont allow maths operations on it.

[Tobbe]

Use integer for fields that only use numbers, they take less space and the computer can compare then with other integer easier.

This have already been said... :p