Effect of length on INT() column if no ZEROFILL?

bunner_bob

I understand that in an INT() type column (TINYINT, SMALLINT, etc.) the length property determines the minimum number of characters returned WHEN the ZEROFILL flag is set. If you don't set ZEROFILL, does the length do anything?

PhpMyAdmin seems to automatically throw a length in there even if I don't specify one. Never caused me any trouble, but I just want to know if it's something I should care about.

nemonoman

The length attribute of INT column creation means, in effect, the max and min values allowed. INT(3) would be max 999

Lars_Berg

The length attribute of INT column creation means, in effect, the max and min values allowed. INT(3) would be max 999

No, you got that wrong.

The storage size of an int is always 4 bytes and the min/max values are not affected by using e.g. int(3). It's from approx -2 billions to 2 billions.

Without zerofill the length property is without meaning and mostly confusing.