Integer types (smallint, integer, bigint) in PostgreSQL - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the range of values for the smallint type in PostgreSQL?

The smallint type stores integers from -32,768 to 32,767.

beginner

Which integer type in PostgreSQL can store the largest whole numbers?

The bigint type can store the largest whole numbers, ranging from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

beginner

What is the default integer type in PostgreSQL when you use integer?

The integer type (also called int) stores whole numbers from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647.

intermediate

Why would you choose smallint over integer or bigint?

You choose smallint to save storage space when you know your numbers will fit in its smaller range, like counting items that never exceed 32,767.

intermediate

What happens if you try to store a number outside the range of an integer type in PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL will give an error because the number is too big or too small for that type. You need to use a larger integer type or handle the value differently.

Which PostgreSQL integer type uses 8 bytes of storage?

A smallint

B integer

C bigint

D serial

bigint uses 8 bytes, integer uses 4 bytes, and smallint uses 2 bytes.

What is the maximum positive value for the integer type?

A 2,147,483,647

B 32,767

C 9,223,372,036,854,775,807

D 4,294,967,295

integer stores values up to 2,147,483,647.

If you need to store a number larger than 2 billion, which type should you use?

A smallint

B integer

C text

D bigint

bigint can store numbers larger than 2 billion.

How many bytes does the smallint type use?

A 2 bytes

B 1 byte

C 4 bytes

D 8 bytes

smallint uses 2 bytes of storage.

What will happen if you insert the number 100,000 into a smallint column?

A It will store the number correctly.

B It will cause an error due to overflow.

C It will round the number down.

D It will convert the number to text.

100,000 is outside the smallint range, causing an overflow error.

Explain the differences between smallint, integer, and bigint in PostgreSQL.

Think about how much space each type uses and the size of numbers they can hold.

Describe what happens if you try to store a number too large for the chosen integer type in PostgreSQL.

Consider what PostgreSQL does when data doesn't fit the type.