Re: storing binary data

Neil Conway <nconway(at)klamath(dot)dyndns(dot)org> writes:
>> You could use bytea, but I would recommend converting the checksum
>> to a hex digit string and then storing that in a char-type field.
>> Hex is the usual textual representation for MD5 values, no?

> It is, but (IMHO) it's a big waste of space. The actual MD5 digest is
> 128 bits. If stored in binary form, it's 16 bytes. If stored in hex
> form (as ASCII), it's 32 characters @ 1 byte per character =3D 32 bytes.

You're worried about 16 bytes per pg_shadow entry? Get real. I'd
have recommended bytea if the amount of storage involved were actually
significant, but for this application readability seems more important.

regards, tom lane