Difference between varchar and nvarchar

Differences :

1 Character Data Type

Varchar - Non-Unicode Data
NVarchar - Unicode Data

2 Character Size

Varchar - 1 byte
NVarchar - 2 bytes

3 Maximum Length

Varchar - 8,000 bytes
NVarchar - 4,000 bytes

4 Storage Size

Varchar - Actual Length (in bytes)
NVarchar - 2 times Actual Length (in bytes)

5    Example


DECLARE @FirstName AS VARCHAR(50) = ‘Techie’
SELECT @FirstName AS FirstName,
DATALENGTH(@FirstName) AS
Length

Result:
FirstName Length
Techie 6

 DECLARE @FirstName AS NVARCHAR(50)= ‘Techie’ SELECT @FirstName AS FirstName, DATALENGTH(@FirstName) AS Length
Result:
FirstName Length Techie 12




 * The abbreviation for Varchar is Variable Length character String.

* The abbreviation of NVarchar is uNicode Variable Length character String.