MySQL Enum Vs Char Data Types Performance

[HoboTraveler]

Hi All,

Is there a performance increase in using the Enum data type over the char?

MySQL's 5 propose table structure recommends that I switch over to Enum instead of Char.

Is Enum better than Char?

Thanks!

[edited by: HoboTraveler at 7:02 am (utc) on June 19, 2008]

[coopster]

I don't use ENUM just because it is MySQL-specific. It is an extension to standard SQL. If you have a column that requires a minor subset of restricted options you can create constraints using alternatives, but ENUM is one that I shy from.

How/where are you seeing that message?