The database server uses the LVARCHAR data type to transfer the external text representation of an opaque data type between the database server and an application. Although the actual internal, binary representation for the opaque data type might contain nontext types, such as integers or double precision floating-point values, the data in its external text format is an LVARCHAR. The input and output support functions serve as cast functions between the LVARCHAR and opaque data types.
The DataBlade API provides the mi_lvarchar data type to hold the external representation of opaque-type data. For more information, see the IBM Informix: DataBlade API Programmer's Guide.
ESQL/C applications use lvarchar to transfer the external text representation of an opaque type. The database server implicitly invokes the input and output support functions when it receives an SQL statement that contains an lvarchar host variable.
ESQL/C applications use varbinary to transfer the external binary representation of an opaque type.