Hello.

I understand that VAR is a fixed length datatype and it makes sense using it for strings that have always the same amount of characters. I know that VARCHAR is variable length datatype and it stores only as many characters as it needs to store thus it is better to use it with strings of different length.
What I don't understand is giving a length to a VARCHAR datatype like for example VARCHAR(25) - what does it really do and when to use it?

Thanks

instead of VAR and VARCHAR, you meant to say CHAR and VARCHAR

the length of a VARCHAR is the maximum allowed length

so you cannot enter the string 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz' into a VARCHAR(25) column, because it's too long

hmmm that actually makes a lot of sense,

...and yes I meant CHAR not VAR (l guess I should quit learning MySQL during night time)

So it basically prevents inputting longer strings, right?

Ehh, enough for tonight

Thanks.

Depends.
I think with the default installation, MySQL will simply truncate the value, but will not refuse to insert it.

nicely spotted

ya learn sumpin new ever day