Goal This query identifies a semantic mismatch in data types for columns intended to store standard codes, such as country, language, currency, or airport codes. It flags columns whose names suggest they contain these codes, but which are defined using non-text data types (e.g., integer, numeric, bigint). Since these codes often contain letters or leading zeros and are not used in mathematical calculations, they are semantically strings. Storing them as numeric types can lead to data loss—such as the truncation of leading zeros—and reduces formatting flexibility.
Notes The query considers both column names in English and Estonian.
Type Problem detection (Each row in the result could represent a flaw in the design)
Reliability Medium (Medium number of false-positive results)
License MIT (opens in new tab)
Data Source INFORMATION_SCHEMA only
SQL Query 
SELECT table_schema, table_name, column_name,  data_type
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.columns
WHERE data_type!~'(character|text)' 
AND column_name~*'(riik|riigi|keel|valuuta|lennujaam|maakond|country|lang|currency|airport).*(kood|code)'
AND (table_schema, table_name) IN (SELECT table_schema, table_name
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.tables WHERE table_type='BASE TABLE') AND 
table_schema NOT IN (SELECT schema_name
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.schemata
WHERE schema_name<>'public' AND
schema_owner='postgres' AND schema_name IS NOT NULL)
ORDER BY table_schema, table_name, ordinal_position;

Collections

This query belongs to the following collections:

Find problems automatically

Queries, that results point to problems in the database. Each query in the collection produces an initial assessment. However, a human reviewer has the final say as to whether there is a problem or not .

NameDescription
Find problems automaticallyQueries, that results point to problems in the database. Each query in the collection produces an initial assessment. However, a human reviewer has the final say as to whether there is a problem or not .

Categories

This query is classified under the following categories:

Classifier tables

Queries of this category provide information about registration of classifiers.

Data types

Queries of this category provide information about the data types and their usage.

Result quality depends on names

Queries of this category use names (for instance, column names) to try to guess the meaning of a database object. Thus, the goodness of names determines the number of false positive and false negative results.

NameDescription
Classifier tablesQueries of this category provide information about registration of classifiers.
Data typesQueries of this category provide information about the data types and their usage.
Result quality depends on namesQueries of this category use names (for instance, column names) to try to guess the meaning of a database object. Thus, the goodness of names determines the number of false positive and false negative results.