Storing Numbers as Text

Introducing the “Numeroliteral Test,” a one-question heuristic for deciding whether to store numeric data in a character-based field.

Not all number-based fields should be stored as numeric data types.

Any data that you can store in a numeric field can also be stored in a text field. So, how do you decide which one to choose? For example, how would you store the following?

The word “numeroliteral” derives from the Latin numerus (“a number”) and the Latin litera (“letter of the alphabet”).

Yes, I made it up.

If the answer is Yes, then store the data in a numeric field.

If the answer is No, then store the data in a character-based field.

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