In SQL, why do we use VARCHAR to store phone numbers instead of INT? Isn't INT the most suitable since phone numbers just numbers?

Hi Rishabh! That's a great question and a common point of confusion for many learners just starting with SQL. Let's dive into it:

Why Use VARCHAR for Phone Numbers?

Even though phone numbers consist of digits, we treat them differently from regular numbers like age or ID. Here's why:

• Fixed Format: Phone numbers often have leading zeros or country codes, and using an int would strip those away (e.g., +04123456789).

• Non-Numeric Characteristics: Since phone numbers aren't used for calculations (like operations or comparisons), they are better stored as strings.

Give it a try and let me know if you run into any issues or have further questions. Happy querying! 🙂