Skip Headers
Oracle® Database Reference
10g Release 2 (10.2)

Part Number B14237-04
Go to Documentation Home
Home
Go to Book List
Book List
Go to Table of Contents
Contents
Go to Index
Index
Go to Master Index
Master Index
Go to Feedback page
Contact Us

Go to previous page
Previous
Go to next page
Next
PDF · Mobi · ePub

NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS

Property Description
Parameter type String
Syntax NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS = string

Example: NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS = 'CHAR'

Default value BYTE
Modifiable ALTER SESSION
Range of values BYTE | CHAR

NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS enables you to create CHAR and VARCHAR2 columns using either byte or character length semantics. Existing columns are not affected.

NCHAR, NVARCHAR2, CLOB, and NCLOB columns are always character-based. You may be required to use byte semantics in order to maintain compatibility with existing applications.

NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS does not apply to tables in SYS and SYSTEM. The data dictionary always uses byte semantics.