How is the INTEGER data type stored in snowflake?

In Snowflake, the INTEGER data type is stored as a 4-byte signed integer. The range of values for the INTEGER data type in Snowflake is from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647.

Internally, Snowflake uses a compressed columnar storage format called Micro-partitioning. In this format, the data is divided into small units called micro-partitions, which are typically 8 MB in size. Each micro-partition contains a set of columnar data values, including INTEGER values.

Within a micro-partition, the INTEGER values are stored using a combination of compression techniques, such as run-length encoding and delta encoding. These techniques optimize the storage by reducing the size of the data and improving query performance.

The compressed INTEGER values are stored in a columnar format, where all the values of the INTEGER column are grouped together. This columnar storage allows for efficient data retrieval during query execution since only the necessary column data needs to be accessed, reducing the overall I/O requirements.

Snowflake also provides automatic and dynamic data optimization features, such as automatic clustering and metadata-aware storage, which further enhance query performance and storage efficiency for INTEGER and other data types.

In summary, Snowflake stores INTEGER data as 4-byte signed integers within micro-partitions, using compression techniques to optimize storage and improve query performance.