Implicit data type conversion in Oracle

Implicit data type conversion is a process in Oracle SQL where the database system automatically converts one data type to another without explicitly specifying it in the SQL code. This can happen when performing operations or comparisons between different data types, or when inserting data into a table with a different data type than the one specified in the source data.

Oracle SQL provides a set of rules for implicit data type conversion to ensure that the conversion is safe and reliable. For example, when converting between numeric data types, the database system will ensure that the conversion does not result in a loss of precision or scale. Similarly, when converting between character data types, the system will ensure that the conversion is done according to the character set of the database.

Implicit data type conversion can be useful in simplifying SQL code, as it eliminates the need to explicitly cast or convert data types. However, it can also lead to unexpected results if the conversion rules are not fully understood or if the data being converted is not compatible with the target data type.

It is important for SQL developers to be aware of the rules governing implicit data type conversion in Oracle SQL and to use explicit type conversion when necessary to avoid unexpected results. By understanding these rules, developers can write more efficient and reliable SQL code that takes advantage of implicit data type conversion when appropriate.

VARCHAR2 or CHAR to NUMBER

VARCHAR2 or CHAR to DATE