Database field data types

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A database field called Age stores whole numbers like 12 or 13. Which data type fits best?

A Long text

B Integer (whole number)

2. Which field should use a decimal (number with a decimal point) data type?

A Price, such as 4.95

B Number of siblings, such as 2

3. True or false: A data type controls what kind of values a field will accept.

A True

B False

4. A field called Birthday needs to store 14/03/2012. Which data type is the best choice?

A Date

B Yes/No

5. A field called HasPermissionSlip only holds the answer 'yes' or 'no'. Which data type fits?

A Decimal

B Yes/No

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Age: Number (integer)		APrice: Number (decimal)
2Birthday: Date		BThe Birthday field only accepts a valid calendar date, like 14/03/2012.
3A yes/no field can only hold one of two values, like true or false.		CHasPermissionNote: Yes/No
4A decimal number field stores values with parts of a whole, such as a price or a height.		DThe Age field only accepts whole numbers like 12 or 13, with no decimal part.
5Height_m: Number (integer) -> 1.65		EA long review will not fit in a short text field, which only holds a few words or a short phrase.
6Comments: Short text (255 chars) -> a 3-paragraph review		FA height like 1.65 has a decimal part, so it cannot be stored in an integer field.

Definitions

data type

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Field: FirstName Data type: __________

Field: Age Data type: _______

Field: Price Data type: _______

Field: BirthDate Data type: ____

Field: IsMember Data type: ______

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A TABLE Students

B FirstName: Yes/No

C Age: Integer

D Enrolled: Yes/No

Question 2

A Price: Integer (e.g. 4.50)

B Quantity: Integer (e.g. 3)

C InStock: Yes/No

Question 3

A TABLE Movies

B Title: Short Text

C Summary: Date

D Length: Integer

Question 4

A TABLE Events

B Cost: Date

C StartDate: Date

Question 5

A IsMember: Date (Yes or No)

B Name: Short Text

C Score: Integer

Answer Key

Database field data types

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Integer (whole number)

A — Price, such as 4.95

A — True

A — Date

B — Yes/No

Section B: Match the Pairs

Age: Number (integer) → The Age field only accepts whole numbers like 12 or 13, with no decimal part.

Birthday: Date → The Birthday field only accepts a valid calendar date, like 14/03/2012.

A yes/no field can only hold one of two values, like true or false. → HasPermissionNote: Yes/No

A decimal number field stores values with parts of a whole, such as a price or a height. → Price: Number (decimal)

Height_m: Number (integer) -> 1.65 → A height like 1.65 has a decimal part, so it cannot be stored in an integer field.

Comments: Short text (255 chars) -> a 3-paragraph review → A long review will not fit in a short text field, which only holds a few words or a short phrase.

Section C: Definitions

data type — The kind of value a database field accepts, such as text, number, date or yes/no. It stops the wrong kind of data being entered, like words in a number field.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Field: FirstName
Data type: Short text

Field: Age
Data type: Integer

Field: Price
Data type: Decimal

Field: BirthDate
Data type: Date

Field: IsMember
Data type: Yes/No

Section E: Spot the Error

B — A first name is made of letters, so it needs a Short Text field. A Yes/No field only accepts yes or no. It should be FirstName: Short Text.

A — A price like 4.50 has cents, so it needs a Decimal field. An Integer field only holds whole numbers. It should be Price: Decimal.

C — A summary is a paragraph of words, so it needs a Long Text field. A Date field only accepts dates. It should be Summary: Long Text.

B — A cost is an amount of money, so it needs a Decimal (number) field. A Date field would reject amounts like 12.50. It should be Cost: Decimal.

A — A field that only holds Yes or No should use the Yes/No data type. A Date field would reject those values. It should be IsMember: Yes/No.