When the length of the input string does not match the storage size of the fixed length string data type CHAR(n). SQL Server will:

* If the input string of CHAR(n) has less than n bytes, it will be padded with space characters to become n bytes.

* If the input string of CHAR(n) has more than n bytes, it will be truncated to n bytes.

The tutorial exercise shows you good examples of truncating and padding fixed length character strings:

-- Length matches the data type size

DECLARE @msg CHAR(36);

SET @msg = 'Welcome to GlobalGuideLine.com SQL Server!';

PRINT '('+@msg+')';

GO

(Welcome to GlobalGuideLine.com SQL Server!)

-- Length is bigger than the data type size - truncated

DECLARE @msg CHAR(24);

SET @msg = 'Welcome to GlobalGuideLine.com SQL Server!';

PRINT '('+@msg+')';

GO

(Welcome to GlobalGuideLine.com)

-- Length is smaller than the data type size - padded

DECLARE @msg CHAR(46);

SET @msg = 'Welcome to GlobalGuideLine.com SQL Server!';

PRINT '('+@msg+')';

GO

(Welcome to GlobalGuideLine.com SQL Server!)