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If TINYINT can store three characters, for example, why can't it store up to the number 999?

Mohamad
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    Actually, it can store up to 255, not 256, because 0 is also a value. Furthermore, if its signed, your range is cut up by half, meaning you can store from -128 up to 127. – Bruno Brant Feb 24 '10 at 18:36

2 Answers2

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Because it takes only 8 bit and hence can encode no more than 2^8 = 256 values.

The three characters you see in something like '123' are the result of the binary to decimal conversion. You cannot store arbitrary 3 characters there.

Quassnoi
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It is 8 bits and can actually store a maximum value of 255. 8 bits have 256 possible states including zero.

TWA
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