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Data types

SQLite data types between versions

Every SQLite data type an older or newer SQLite stores differently, what the converter writes for it, and the report line.

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Each row is a type from SQLite that an older or newer SQLite stores differently: what the script gets, why, and the line the report writes about it. The rows come from the converter's own rules, so this page matches what it does.

Convert in the browser: SQLite to SQLite opens the converter set up for this pair. The SQLite to SQLite migration guide covers dumping, loading and the rules for keys, indexes and names.

A report line is a fix when the converter changed something and lists it, or a problem when a value or object is worth a look.

Numbers

In the dump In the script Why Report line
DECIMAL(p,s), NUMERIC the exact type when every value fits it, else a double SQLite stores these as integers or doubles; a declared precision holds only when the values fit it. None

Booleans and bits

In the dump In the script Why Report line
BOOLEAN, BOOL INTEGER 0 or 1 with a CHECK When every value is 0 or 1; a column that also holds other values keeps them as numbers or text. None

Text

In the dump In the script Why Report line
TEXT, VARCHAR(n), CHAR(n), CLOB the declared type, kept as it is SQLite never enforces a length; a declared length holds only when every value fits it. None
NUL characters in text kept The sqlite3 shell and Python cut text at a NUL character when they dump it, so only what precedes it is in the dump. None
text that isn't valid UTF-8 the bad bytes as the replacement character Dumps write such text as raw bytes; the script is UTF-8. invalid_utf8_replaced (problem)

Dates and times

In the dump In the script Why Report line
DATE, DATETIME, TIMESTAMP holding ISO 8601 text DATE, DATETIME as ISO 8601 text When every value is a date or a date and time; epoch numbers and other text keep their values as they are. None

Binary

In the dump In the script Why Report line
BLOB, and columns holding bytes BLOB Bytes stay bytes; text and numbers in the same column are kept as their bytes. None

JSON, spatial and other types

In the dump In the script Why Report line
declared types (any text: VARCHAR(255), DATETIME, BOOLEAN, JSON or none) the type every value in the column fits The same declared types, so the values load as they were stored. None
JSON holding JSON text TEXT When every value is a JSON object or array. None
Infinity in REAL columns 9e999, SQLite's own infinity SQLite writes infinity as an overflowing literal, which loads back as infinity. None

Counters and identities

In the dump In the script Why Report line
INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, AUTOINCREMENT INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, AUTOINCREMENT kept Only a column declared exactly INTEGER PRIMARY KEY is the rowid; every row keeps its id, and the counter starts after the highest id ever handed out. None

Other pairs