DB2 10.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
DB2 10.5 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
A binary string is a sequence of bytes. Unlike character strings, which usually contain text data, binary strings are used to hold non-traditional data such as pictures, voice, or mixed media.
Character strings of the FOR BIT DATA subtype may be used for similar purposes. Binary strings are not associated with a code page. Binary strings have the same restrictions as character strings (for details, see Varying-length character strings). Only character strings of the FOR BIT DATA subtype are compatible with binary strings.
A binary large object is a varying-length binary string that can be up to 2 gigabytes minus 1 byte (2 147 483 647 bytes) long. BLOBs can hold structured data for exploitation by user-defined types and user-defined functions. Like FOR BIT DATA character strings, BLOB strings are not associated with a code page.