The data type (data_type) CHAR[ACTER] defines an alphanumeric column. Specification of length attribute n is optional. If no other length attribute is specified, then it is assumed that n=1.

CHAR[ACTER] [(n)]: 0<n<=8000

CHAR[ACTER] [(n)] UNICODE: 0<n<=4000

The database system determines, in accordance with n, whether the values in the column are stored with a fixed or variable length. If you want to store the values in a variable length regardless of the value of n, you must use VARCHAR.

The data type CHAR[ACTER] is specified in the column definition, with a code attribute, if required.