why does t-sql use the N prefix for nvarchar string literals?

Question

I understand that, in t-sql, the prefix N on a string literal specifies a unicode string (i.e. the type of the literal is nvarchar). My question is: why N? Why not U, for Unicode, or L, like C?

`N` most likely just stands for `NVARCHAR`. What the `N` in `NVARCHAR` stands for though... :) — Joachim Isaksson, Jun 25 '13 at 20:37

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 25 '13 at 20:49

3

As indicated by this MSDN article, N stands for national character.

edited Jun 25 '13 at 20:49

Dan Davies Brackett

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answered Jun 25 '13 at 20:40

Z .

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This link is now dead, but the answer is correct. – BillRob Apr 02 '20 at 21:21

why does t-sql use the N prefix for nvarchar string literals?

1 Answers1