Why can't tinyint store more than the number 255 in MySQL?

Question

If TINYINT can store three characters, for example, why can't it store up to the number 999?

Geothermal

Actually, it can store up to 255, not 256, because 0 is also a value. Furthermore, if its signed, your range is cut up by half, meaning you can store from -128 up to 127. – Popinjay

Answer 1

Because it takes only 8 bit and hence can encode no more than 2^8 = 256 values.

The three characters you see in something like '123' are the result of the binary to decimal conversion. You cannot store arbitrary 3 characters there.

Gurl

Answer 2

It is 8 bits and can actually store a maximum value of 255. 8 bits have 256 possible states including zero.

Indeterminism