---
title: "What is the difference between TEXT and VARCHAR(MAX) in SQL Server?"  
description: "What is the difference between TEXT and VARCHAR(MAX) in SQL Server?"  
author: "Anubhav Sharma"  
published: 2025-08-21  
updated: 2025-08-21  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34358/what-is-the-difference-between-text-and-varchar-max-in-sql-server  
category: "SQL Server"  
tags: ["sql server", "sql"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# What is the difference between TEXT and VARCHAR(MAX) in SQL Server?

#### Note

- `TEXT` → ~~Deprecated, used for very large text (up to 2GB)~~.
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` → Modern replacement, supports up to 2^31-1 characters, can be used like `VARCHAR`.

#### Difference between `TEXT` and [`VARCHAR(MAX)`](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34356/what-is-the-difference-between-char-n-and-varchar-n-in-sql) in SQL Server

## Deprecation

- `TEXT`, `NTEXT`, and `IMAGE` types are **deprecated** (Microsoft recommends avoiding them).
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` (and `NVARCHAR(MAX)`, `VARBINARY(MAX)`) are the modern replacements.

## Storage

- `TEXT` stores data **outside the row** (in LOB storage) with only a 16-byte pointer in the row.
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` can store data **in-row (up to 8,000 bytes)** and moves to LOB storage only if data exceeds that.

## Size Limit

- Both can store up to **2 GB** of data (`2^31-1` characters for `VARCHAR(MAX)`).

## Functionality

- `TEXT` has **limited support**: cannot be used with string functions (`REPLACE`, `SUBSTRING`, `LEN`, etc.) directly without special workarounds.
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` behaves like a regular `VARCHAR` and supports **all string functions**.

## Performance

- `VARCHAR(MAX)` is generally **faster** and integrates better with modern SQL Server features.
- `TEXT` is slower due to pointer lookups and restricted operations.

## Best Practice:

Always use `VARCHAR(MAX)` (or `NVARCHAR(MAX)` for Unicode) instead of `TEXT`.

## Answers

### Answer by Anubhav Sharma

#### Note

- `TEXT` → ~~Deprecated, used for very large text (up to 2GB)~~.
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` → Modern replacement, supports up to 2^31-1 characters, can be used like `VARCHAR`.

#### Difference between `TEXT` and [`VARCHAR(MAX)`](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34356/what-is-the-difference-between-char-n-and-varchar-n-in-sql) in SQL Server

## Deprecation

- `TEXT`, `NTEXT`, and `IMAGE` types are **deprecated** (Microsoft recommends avoiding them).
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` (and `NVARCHAR(MAX)`, `VARBINARY(MAX)`) are the modern replacements.

## Storage

- `TEXT` stores data **outside the row** (in LOB storage) with only a 16-byte pointer in the row.
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` can store data **in-row (up to 8,000 bytes)** and moves to LOB storage only if data exceeds that.

## Size Limit

- Both can store up to **2 GB** of data (`2^31-1` characters for `VARCHAR(MAX)`).

## Functionality

- `TEXT` has **limited support**: cannot be used with string functions (`REPLACE`, `SUBSTRING`, `LEN`, etc.) directly without special workarounds.
- `VARCHAR(MAX)` behaves like a regular `VARCHAR` and supports **all string functions**.

## Performance

- `VARCHAR(MAX)` is generally **faster** and integrates better with modern SQL Server features.
- `TEXT` is slower due to pointer lookups and restricted operations.

## Best Practice:

Always use `VARCHAR(MAX)` (or `NVARCHAR(MAX)` for Unicode) instead of `TEXT`.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34358/what-is-the-difference-between-text-and-varchar-max-in-sql-server

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