Data truncation

In <a href="/facts/Database/VYcpkevb">databases</a> and <a href="/facts/Computer_networking/3w5RM99p">computer networking</a> data truncation occurs when <a href="/facts/Data_(computing)/cPjfFHph">data</a> or a <a href="/facts/Data_stream/57yDhBCd">data stream</a> (such as a <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">file</a>) is stored in a location too short to hold its entire length. Data truncation may occur automatically, such as when a long <a href="/facts/String_(computer_science)/4ChJu5WS">string</a> is written to a smaller <a href="/facts/Data_buffer/tVy4j2Dc">buffer</a>, or deliberately, when only a portion of the data is wanted.
Depending on what type of <a href="/facts/Data_validation/tFCchJTM">data validation</a> a program or operating system has, the data may be truncated silently (i.e., without informing the user), or the user may be given an <a href="/facts/Error_message/ko8elN1w">error message</a>.
For example, sometimes instead of rounding off a numerical value obtained from a calculation, some of the digits might just be removed i.e. truncated

Data truncation open-in-new

Data truncation