Column defined as NOT NULL default '' ?!

[SirCharles]

I'm looking at a product called 'phpESP' which is a survey tool written in php and mysql. After using mysqladmin to sqldump the db, I noticed that some fields are defined as "...NOT NULL default ''" With my Oracle background, this just does not make sense. The '' implies null value to me, so why would these columns be defined this way?

 

[sleipnir214]

There is a difference, at least in MySQL, between NULL and the empty string. Your default is the empty string.

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[SirCharles]

Thanks. There is no field definition for the empty string in Oracle as far as I know.

 

[SirCharles]

So why would a column be defined as not null and have a default empty string value?

 

[sleipnir214]

To prevent certain kinds of errors? I don't know.

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!