Types

CSDB values are stored as CSV text and decoded according to the column type.

Implemented Types

The TypeScript runtime implements:

Type	Runtime value	Serialized form
text	string	UTF-8 text
varchar	string	UTF-8 text, with optional length
integer	number	Base-10 safe integer
bigint	bigint	Base-10 integer
real	number	Decimal or scientific notation
numeric	string	Exact decimal text
boolean	boolean	true or false
date	string	YYYY-MM-DD
timestamp	string	ISO date-time text
json	object, array, primitive	JSON text
custom	string	Text with required type_name metadata

Null Values

All implemented column types accept null when the column is optional and not part of the primary key. Required columns and primary key columns cannot be null.

• TypeScript row values include null.
• Unquoted empty CSV fields decode as null for optional, non-primary-key columns.
• null serializes as an unquoted empty CSV field.
• Quoted empty strings, written as "", remain empty strings and do not become null.
• Missing values in inserted rows are filled from defaults when a default exists; otherwise they become null for optional, non-primary-key columns.
• Explicit null values are preserved and are not replaced by defaults.

SQL can use the NULL literal and IS NULL / IS NOT NULL predicates.

JSON request and response bodies use JSON null for CSDB null values.

JSON Wire Values

The TypeScript server converts runtime values to lossless JSON values:

CSDB type	JSON value
text, varchar, custom	string
integer, finite real	number
bigint	decimal string
numeric	decimal string
boolean	boolean
date, timestamp	string
json	the stored JSON object, array, primitive, or null

bigint and numeric use strings because JSON numbers cannot preserve every integer or exact decimal. If a real column explicitly permits NaN or infinity, the JSON bridge returns "NaN", "Infinity", or "-Infinity" rather than an invalid JSON number.

Aliases

Alias	Canonical type
character varying	varchar
int, int4	integer
int8	bigint
decimal	numeric
bool	boolean

Type Objects

Use object form when a type needs options.

columns:
  code:
    type: varchar
    length: 20
  amount:
    type: numeric
    precision: 12
    scale: 2
  location:
    type: custom
    type_name: geography_point

Specification Type Registry

The specification also names types such as char, smallint, double, time, uuid, binary, jsonb, array, enum, xml, geometric types, network types, range types, any, and engine-specific custom types.