8.3.4 Column Character Set and Collation

Every ``character'' column (that is, a column of type CHAR, VARCHAR, or TEXT) has a column character set and a column collation, which may not be null. Column definition syntax now has optional clauses for specifying the column character set and collation:

column_name {CHAR | VARCHAR | TEXT} (column_length)
    [CHARACTER SET character_set_name [COLLATE collation_name]]

Example:

CREATE TABLE Table1
(
   column1 VARCHAR(5) CHARACTER SET latin1 COLLATE latin1_german1_ci
);

MySQL chooses the column character set and collation thus:

• If both CHARACTER SET X and COLLATE Y were specified, then character set X and collation Y.
• If CHARACTER SET X was specified without COLLATE, then character set X and its default collation.
• Otherwise, the table character set and collation.

The CHARACTER SET and COLLATE clauses are standard SQL.

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