Relational Databases 101—Using the sql variant Datatype

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Using the sql_variant Datatype

One of SQL Server 2000's innovations was "lifted" from Visual Basic—the "variant." The sql_variant datatype is unusual, in that it's designed to "morph" itself to most (non-BLOB) types. This means when you define a column as sql_variant, it can contain an integer (of any size), a string, a float, money, or even an xml structure. The sql_variant column value does not take on a type until you assign a value to it. I suggest you check out BOL for the rules and regulations involving this unique type.