What are the possible values for a BOOLEAN field in MySQL?
Assesses fundamental understanding of SQL & Databases conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.
Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.
MySQL doesn't have a native BOOLEAN type. It uses TINYINT(1) where 0 = false, 1 = true, and any non-zero value is treated as true in conditions.
CREATE TABLE users (is_active TINYINT(1) DEFAULT 1);
PostgreSQL, however, has a true BOOLEAN type accepting TRUE, FALSE, and NULL.
Candidate Response Strategy & Interview Tips
- Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
- Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
- Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
- Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.