MySQL data types

[yahoka]

I am designing a database that needs a text input for desctiptions that is about 1000 chars long. I cant use char because that has a max of 255, but so far as i can tell the next best thing is 65536 long (text or blob.) Is there something better, shorter, or more efficient than using blob/text that is 65536 charachters long?

[Anon]

TEXT is the one I would use. It gives you the additional FULLTEXT search that you'll probably need... other field type don't give that option.

Even that the TEXT can accept up to 65K chars doesn't mean that every record you enter at your DB will spend that space on your HD... mySQL optimizes the disc usage.