varchar VS nvarchar

What are the difference between VARCHAR AND NVARCHAR in sql server?

• Defination

• VARCHAR is non-unicode character type with variable length
• NVARCHAR is unicode character type with variable length

• Size

• VARCHAR occupies 1 byte per character.
• for example: DECLARE @NAME VARCHAR(10)='JAYENDRA'
• occupies 8 bytes
• NVARCHAR occupies 2 byte per character.
• for example: DECLARE @NAME NVARCHAR(10)='JAYENDRA'
• occupies 16 bytes

• Usage

• use VARCHAR type when your column have only non-unicode character data only like any character which has ascii value 0 to 255
• use NVARCHAR type when you table column contains unicode character data like any other language character ex. gujarati or hindi

• Storage size

• Occupies number of bytes equal to the number of Characters entered and 2 bytes extra for defining offset.
• Occupies number of bytes equal to the number of Characters entered * 2 (twice of character) and 2 bytes extra for defining offset.