Alteryx Foundation Micro-Credential Practice Exam

Which conversion best handles larger integers in databases?

1. Int16

2. Float

3. Long

4. Int64

The correct answer is: Int64

The best conversion for handling larger integers in databases is represented by the option that refers to Int64. This data type can store values that range from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807, which is significantly larger than what other integer types can handle. Specifically, it uses 64 bits (8 bytes) of storage, allowing it to accommodate very large integer values that might be needed for various applications, such as financial calculations or large-scale data processing. In contrast, Int16 and Int64 handle much smaller ranges, with Int16 only supporting values from -32,768 to 32,767, which is insufficient for larger integers. While Float can represent large numbers, it does so in a floating-point format which may introduce rounding errors and is not suited for scenarios requiring precise integer arithmetic. Therefore, choosing Int64 ensures that any larger integer values can be managed effectively without risk of overflow or loss of precision.