linkend="datatype-money-table"/>.  The fractional precision is
    determined by the database's <xref linkend="guc-lc-monetary"/> setting.
    The range shown in the table assumes there are two fractional digits.
    Input is accepted in a variety of formats, including integer and
    floating-point literals, as well as typical
    currency formatting, such as <literal>'$1,000.00'</literal>.
    Output is generally in the latter form but depends on the locale.
   </para>

    <table id="datatype-money-table">
     <title>Monetary Types</title>
     <tgroup cols="4">
      <colspec colname="col1" colwidth="2*"/>
      <colspec colname="col2" colwidth="1*"/>
      <colspec colname="col3" colwidth="2*"/>
      <colspec colname="col4" colwidth="2*"/>
      <thead>
       <row>
        <entry>Name</entry>
        <entry>Storage Size</entry>
        <entry>Description</entry>
        <entry>Range</entry>
       </row>
      </thead>
      <tbody>
       <row>
        <entry><type>money</type></entry>
        <entry>8 bytes</entry>
        <entry>currency amount</entry>
        <entry>-92233720368547758.08 to +92233720368547758.07</entry>
       </row>
      </tbody>
     </tgroup>
    </table>

   <para>
    Since the output of this data type is locale-sensitive, it might not
    work to load <type>money</type> data into a database that has a different
    setting of <varname>lc_monetary</varname>.  To avoid problems, before
    restoring a dump into a new database make sure <varname>lc_monetary</varname> has
    the same or equivalent value as in the database that was dumped.
   </para>

   <para>
    Values of the <type>numeric</type>, <type>int</type>, and
    <type>bigint</type> data types can be cast to <type>money</type>.
    Conversion from the <type>real</type> and <type>double precision</type>
    data types can be done by casting to <type>numeric</type> first, for
    example:
<programlisting>
SELECT '12.34'::float8::numeric::money;
</programlisting>
    However, this is not recommended.  Floating point numbers should not be
    used to handle money due to the potential for rounding errors.
   </para>

   <para>
    A <type>money</type> value can be cast to <type>numeric</type> without
    loss of precision. Conversion to other types could potentially lose
    precision, and must also be done in two stages:
<programlisting>
SELECT '52093.89'::money::numeric::float8;
</programlisting>
   </para>

   <para>
    Division of a <type>money</type> value by an integer value is performed
    with truncation of the fractional part towards zero.  To get a rounded
    result, divide by a floating-point value, or cast the <type>money</type>
    value to <type>numeric</type> before dividing and back to <type>money</type>
    afterwards.  (The latter is preferable to avoid risking precision loss.)
    When a <type>money</type> value is divided by another <type>money</type>
    value, the result is <type>double precision</type> (i.e., a pure number,
    not money); the currency units cancel each other out in the division.
   </para>
  </sect1>


  <sect1 id="datatype-character">
   <title>Character Types</title>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>character string</primary>
    <secondary>data types</secondary>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm>
    <primary>string</primary>
    <see>character string</see>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>character</primary>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>character varying</primary>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>text</primary>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>char</primary>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>varchar</primary>
   </indexterm>

   <indexterm zone="datatype-character">
    <primary>bpchar</primary>
   </indexterm>

    <table id="datatype-character-table">
     <title>Character Types</title>