Unicode- VARCHAR and NVARCHAR

Question

-- Creating Table 

  Create Table Test1
  (
    id Varchar(8000)
  )

-- Inserting a record  
Insert into Test1 Values ('我們的鋁製車架採用最新的合金材料所製成，不但外型輕巧、而且品質優良。為了達到強化效果，骨架另外經過焊接和高溫處理。創新的設計絕對能充分提升踏乘舒適感和單車性能。');

As I have defined data type of id as Varchar. The data is stored as ?????.

Do I have to use NVARCHAR..? What is Difference between VarChar and Nvarchar(). Please explain about UNIcode as well.

Answer 1

Despite the collation of your database. Use nvarchar to store UNICODE. Embbed your Unicode value in N'[value]'

INSERT INTO ... VALUES
('Azerbaijani (Cyrillic)', N'Aзәрбајҹан (кирил әлифбасы)', 'az-cyrl')

In DB: 59   Azerbaijani (Cyrillic)  Aзәрбајҹан (кирил әлифбасы) az-cyrl

Important is the N prefix!

Valid for MS SQL 2014 I am using. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The column type nvarchar allows you to store Unicode characters, which basically means almost any character from almost any language (including modern languages and some obsolete languages), and a good number of symbols too.

Answer 3

also it is required to prefix N before your value. example Insert into Test1 Values (N'我們的鋁製車架採用最新的合金材料所製成，不但外型輕巧、而且品質優良。為了達到強化效果，骨架另外經過焊接和高溫處理。創新的設計絕對能充分提升踏乘舒適感和單車性能。'); or programatically use preparedstatement with bind values for inserting and updating natural characterset

Answer 4

Nvarchar supports UNICODE. SO yes. you need to have the column as nvarchar and not varchar.

Answer 5

Yes you have to use nvarchar or use a collation for the language set you want. But nvarchar is preferred. Goodgle can tell you what this stuff means.