Question

I need to save in one MySql field two numeric values, a and b.
Both are natural numbers with a maximum of 11 characters, and they are going to be used in the next SQL structure.

"SELECT FROM table WHERE field=a and foild=b"

I thought about the next two possibilities:

1. Create a DECIMAL with {11},{11} range.
2. Create a VARCHAR with 23 chars and save them as “a.b” string.

Which is the best option? Is there any better option to get it work fast?

When saying fast I mean also the “cheapest” way to get a and b work in my query. Both examples would need a split process before using them, and I do not know if there is any way of doing this directly in one Query, having a and b as curiousfield.part1 and curiousfield.part2…

Thanks, (excuse me if curiousfield was too fantastic)

EDIT:

Why do I want to store multiple values in One column?

Because I have the next tables:

int-value
content [INT]

varchar-value
content [VARCHAR (100)]

text-value
content [TEXT]

magic-value
content [????]

It is always being saved in “content” for many reasons, and making “magic-value” table to have content-a and content-b fields, would not be a nice solution in the requirements I am working with.

Answer 1

No, no, no!

Don’t ever store multiple values in one column. Period.