Question

Currency data type in MySQL: Decimal or Double?

Asked by: jericotolentino

Dear Experts,

I've been using MySQL for some time now, but I haven't really explored the more advanced features. Regarding field types for currency, when should I use a decimal and when should I use a double?

Thanks in advance!

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Asked On
2007-03-29 at 22:19:06ID22482140
Tags

mysql

,

currency

,

decimal

,

type

,

data

Topic

MySQL Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
125
Comments
2

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Answers

 

by: ivostoykovPosted on 2007-03-29 at 22:44:45ID: 18821750

Hello jericotolentino,

DECIMAL is exact numeric data types storing up to 65.30 numbers. The maximum number of digits for DECIMAL is 65. The maximum number of supported decimals is 30.

DOUBLE is approximate numeric data types. A double floating-point number is accurate to approximately 15 decimal places.

HTH,

!i!

 

by: lahousdenPosted on 2007-03-30 at 14:20:55ID: 18826616

Usually when you are dealing with currency you will want to use DECIMAL. If you use DOUBLE you risk running into situations akin to those where people are sent bills for $0.00 (i.e. the database has stored a cumulated artihmetic result of, e.g., $0.00003267 or something and the program isn't aware it should write the tiny fraction off).

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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