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Oracle® Database Reference
10g Release 2 (10.2)

Part Number B14237-02
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NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS

Property Description
Parameter type String
Syntax NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS = string

Example: NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS = 'CHAR'

Default value BYTE
Modifiable ALTER SESSION
Range of values BYTE | CHAR

NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS enables you to create CHAR and VARCHAR2 columns using either byte or character length semantics. Existing columns are not affected.

NCHAR, NVARCHAR2, CLOB, and NCLOB columns are always character-based. You may be required to use byte semantics in order to maintain compatibility with existing applications.

NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS does not apply to tables in SYS and SYSTEM. The data dictionary always uses byte semantics.