SQL Server equivalent to MySQL enum data type?

Does SQL Server 2008 have a a data-type like MySQL's enum?

Solution 1:

It doesn't. There's a vague equivalent:

mycol VARCHAR(10) NOT NULL CHECK (mycol IN('Useful', 'Useless', 'Unknown'))

Solution 2:

The best solution I've found in this is to create a lookup table with the possible values as a primary key, and create a foreign key to the lookup table.

Solution 3:

IMHO Lookup tables is the way to go, with referential integrity. But only if you avoid "Evil Magic Numbers" by following an example such as this one: Generate enum from a database lookup table using T4

Have Fun!

Solution 4:

CREATE FUNCTION ActionState_Preassigned()
RETURNS tinyint
AS
BEGIN
    RETURN 0
END

GO

CREATE FUNCTION ActionState_Unassigned()
RETURNS tinyint
AS
BEGIN
    RETURN 1
END

-- etc...

Where performance matters, still use the hard values.