If the data types for a row or collection that are on a database server differ from the data types for a row or collection buffer into which the data is retrieved, the database server calls cast functions to convert the data from the source Informix SQL data types to the target Informix SQL data types. The following table lists the provider of the cast functions for each combination of source data type and target data type. Cast functions that a data type provides are located on the database server.
| Source Data Type | Target Data Type | Provider of Cast Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in | Built-in | Database server |
| Built-in | Extended | Data type |
| Extended | Built-in | Data type |
| Extended | Extended | Data type |