nvarchar(max) vs NText

sql-server sql-server-2005 sql-server-2008 text nvarchar
David Pfeffer picture David Pfeffer · Jan 25, 2010 · Viewed 147.6k times · Source

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the nvarchar(max) vs. NText data types in SQL Server? I don't need backward compatibility, so it is fine that nvarchar(max) isn't supported in older SQL Server releases.

Edit: Apparently the question also applies to TEXT and IMAGE vs. varchar(max) and varbinary(max), for those searching for those data-types later.

Answer

SQLMenace picture SQLMenace · Jan 25, 2010

The advantages are that you can use functions like LEN and LEFT on nvarchar(max) and you cannot do that against ntext and text. It is also easier to work with nvarchar(max) than text where you had to use WRITETEXT and UPDATETEXT.

Also, text, ntext, etc., are being deprecated (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187993.aspx)

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