Re: SELECT CAST(123 AS char) -> 1

Tom Lane wrote:
> Richard Huxton <dev(at)archonet(dot)com> writes:
>> [ proof that cast(123 as char) actually produces varchar in mysql ]
>
> Egad. I wonder if they think this is a feature?

Well, presumably its what all the other "convenient" (for Ken's
particular problem) databases do. The only alternative I could see would
be to use a varchar while casting values and then check lengths at the
end before re-casting to e.g. char(6).

Interestingly, it must have some lookup table mapping numeric types to
lengths of varchar because a standard int gives you varchar(11) whereas
an expression that pushes you beyond 32 bits gives varchar(32) and a
tinyint gives you varchar(4). Clearly some thought has gone into this.

--
Richard Huxton
Archonet Ltd