In MSSQL what's the different between varchar and nvarchar

In Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL), varchar and nvarchar are both string data types used to store character data. The key difference lies in the character encoding and storage:

• Varchar:

Uses the ASCII character set (1 byte per character).

Suitable for storing strings that contain only English characters or characters that can be represented using the ASCII character set.

Storage size is the actual length of the data entered + 2 bytes.

• Nvarchar:

Uses the Unicode character set (2 bytes per character).

Supports a wider range of characters, including non-English languages and special characters.

Storage size is 2 times the actual length of the data entered + 2 bytes.

When deciding between varchar and nvarchar, consider the type of data you'll be storing:

• Use varchar for English-only strings or when storage space is a concern.
• Use nvarchar for strings that may contain non-English characters, special characters, or when supporting multiple languages is necessary.