# BIGINT function

The BIGINT function returns a 64-bit integer representation of a number or character string in the form of an integer constant.

## Syntax

    BIGINT ( characterExpression | numericExpression )

characterExpression
  An expression that returns a character string value of length not greater than the maximum length of a character constant. Leading and trailing blanks are eliminated and the resulting string must conform to the rules for forming an SQL integer constant. The character string cannot be a long string. If the argument is a characterExpression, the result is the same number that would occur if the corresponding integer constant were assigned to a big integer column or variable.
numericExpression
  An expression that returns a value of any built-in numeric data type. If the argument is a numericExpression, the result is the same number that would occur if the argument were assigned to a big integer column or variable. If the whole part of the argument is not within the range of integers, an error occurs. The decimal part of the argument is truncated if present.

The result of the function is a big integer. If the argument can be null, the result can be null; if the argument is null, the result is the null value.

## Example

Using the EMPLOYEE table, select the EMPNO column in big integer form for further processing in the application:

    SELECT BIGINT (EMPNO) FROM EMPLOYEE

Parent topic: Built-in functions